Anyone still trying to play mental gymnastics to defend Ronaldo from now on should be instantly banned. You’re either a United fan or a Ronaldo fan. You can’t be both.
Edit: I don't know why my posts end up so long, I'm sorry
Why can't I be a fan of both? Because I am. And I was a fan of United before I was a Ronaldo fan (hugeee fan of both, Man Utd not my hometown/born club). And if you look through my post history, all of it, you would see that there's people in here that can really like the guy but that's one thing, another is blindly idolatrizing him and pretending he's a perfect human being, or undermining or criticizing the club because things aren't turning out well right now. I've always strived to be respectful of others opinions and raise the discussion level, mainly on his footballing side, and not really outside the scope of that. I think I deserve to contribute, for sure.
I really like Ten Hag, actually. I wish Ronaldo wouldn't have done this interview but that's just like him, isn't it? I like him as he is, with defects and all. I don't think the club has been any more disrepectful of him, than he has been towards the club, this season. I think Ronaldo has made some mistakes, and Ten Hag probably could have done better with one of the subs with Ronaldo (the one he refused to come on). But we all make mistakes and I'm not gonna bash Erik because I think he could've done that event better. I think he's handled Ronaldo pretty well overall, honest to god. He's given him plenty of game time broadly speaking, made him captain the other day, been supportive of him publicly, regardless of whether he feels that way or not in reality.
Ronaldo says a couple of things that are quite right in my view, one of those things is the one we all agree and know about. The other is about Rooney, I don't know what's so sad about that reply to Rooney, Ronaldo, like him or not, is still going in the Premier League at this age (still being a starter in a lot of games despite not playing well lately), while Rooney talks on the sidelines. I can't see a fairer reply than saying Ronney is off-pressure on the sidelines where it's easy to talk, while he's actually still doing it on the field as of today. Other stuff he talks about just undermines his position with the fans, and the manager, and isn't doing himself any favours there, considering that right now I believe he should be striving to keep his doors open in here. You never know the future, and it would be best if he kept some stuff to himself so as not to burn bridges with the coach and/or staff.
All in all, my assessement of Ronaldo's time in here with us is that for years before he rejoined, I felt it in my heart I never wanted him to come back, afraid of things turning sour for X or Y reason and you know, people's expectations, him maybe declining because age does catch up, and in the end I guess that as a fan of both and wanting to see both United and him lifting a trophy together again, it's been the nightmare I dreaded all along.
I love the coach and where the team is heading, though, so I'm supper happy with that.
