Cristiano Ronaldo, centre, has struggled since Erik ten Hag’s, right, arrival at Man Utd (Photo: Getty)
Ander Herrera has told Erik ten Hag that Cristiano Ronaldo still has a lot to offer Manchester United, but agrees that the legendary forward should not be starting every game.
Ronaldo has endured a frustrating start to the season, scoring just twice in 11 appearances, following a difficult summer where he attempted to leave Old Trafford.
The Portugal star does not appear to be in Ten Hag’s plans for United, with the manager handing Ronaldo just one Premier League start so far this campaign, in the 4-0 loss at Brentford.
There is much debate about whether this has been the right call or not, as while the Red Devils have performed well in his absence, leaving a player of his stature and quality on the bench has not gone down well with some fans and pundits.
Former United midfielder Herrera sees both sides of the argument, but ultimately believes that Ten Hag needs to utilise Ronaldo as much as possible while he can.
‘When you have a player who scores 24 goals last season, how can you say this player is not for the team?’ Herrera, who is currently on loan at Athletic Bilbao from PSG, told ESPN.
‘He was the top scorer of the team, one of the top scorers in Europe. He’s probably not going to score 50 goals every season of course, he’s 37, but he’s still there fighting and scoring.
Ronaldo has started just one league game this season – the 4-0 loss at Brentford (Photo: Getty)
‘He’s taking care of himself every day, every single training session, so respect and now probably you have to control the charge of him in terms of training and games.
‘You cannot make him play every single game of the season even though he wants to. But in the big moments he will be there.’
Ronaldo is in contention to start United’s next league game against Newcastle on Sunday, but faces competition from Antony Martial if the Frenchman is passed fit for the match.
Ander Herrera made 189 appearances for Man Utd from 2014 to 2019 (Photo: Getty)
Herrera also said that he was shocked by the criticism that both Ronaldo and his PSG teammate Lionel Messi received over the past season, after both sides endured underwhelming campaigns.
‘There is one thing that you cannot lie which is the stats and Ronaldo has them,’ the Spanish international added.
‘Score score, play play, always. He puts on the face to fight, to score, to run, to take the responsibility of the team, so for me there is no space for criticism with Cristiano or Leo.
‘Of course, everyone’s going to talk about them because they are probably the two best players in the history of football but what they are doing now, what Cristiano is doing for Manchester United – for me, as they say in France, chapeau! [Well done].’
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Ronaldo has started just one Premier League game this season.