Category: Erik ten Hag

‘I felt betrayed’: Ronaldo aims broadside at Ten Hag and Manchester United | Cristiano Ronaldo


Cristiano Ronaldo claims he has been “betrayed” by Manchester United and believes they are trying to force him out of the club.

The Portugal forward said that head coach Erik ten Hag and others want him out of Old Trafford in an excerpt of a 90-minute interview released on the Piers Morgan Uncensored Twitter feed.

When asked by Morgan if United’s hierarchy were trying to force him out of the club, Ronaldo, 37, said: “Yes, not only the coach, but another two or three guys around the club. I felt betrayed.”

When quizzed again if senior club executives were trying to oust him, Ronaldo said: “I don’t care. People should listen to the truth.

“Yes I felt betrayed and I felt like some people don’t want me here, not only this year but last year too.”

The forward was banished from first-team training last month by Ten Hag and excluded from the draw at Chelsea as punishment for refusing to come on against Tottenham and walking down the tunnel before the end of the match.

He returned to the fold – and scored his third of the season – in the 3-0 Europa League victory over Sheriff and played in the subsequent Premier League games against West Ham and Aston Villa, though he was absent from the matchday squad for Sunday’s game against Fulham.

When Morgan asked Ronaldo about current United boss Ten Hag, the Portuguese said: “I don’t have respect for him because he doesn’t show respect for me. If you don’t have respect for me, I’m never gonna have respect for you.”

Ronaldo was also “witheringly scornful” about former United team-mate Wayne Rooney over criticism the former had received for refusing to appear for United as a substitute during a recent game against Tottenham.

Ronaldo reportedly said: “I don’t know why he criticises me so badly … probably because he finished his career and I’m still playing at a high level. I’m not going to say that I’m looking better than him. Which is true …”

Ronaldo (left) claims United have not progressed as a club since Sir Alex Ferguson (right) left the club.
Ronaldo (left) claims United have not progressed as a club since Sir Alex Ferguson (right) left the club. Photograph: Adam Vaughan/EPA

In further clips from the interview, released by TalkTV, Ronaldo claimed United had not progressed as a club since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.

Ronaldo said: “I don’t know what is going on but since Sir Alex Ferguson left I saw no evolution in the club, the progress was zero.

“For example, we have an interesting point that how the club as Manchester United after (they) sack Ole (Gunnar Solskjaer), they buy – they bring (in), sports director Ralf Rangnick, which is something that nobody understands.

“This guy is not even a coach. A bigger club like Manchester United brings (a) sports director – surprised not only me but all the world, you know.

“Nothing changed. Surprisingly. Not only the pool, the jacuzzi, even the gym … Even some points, the technology, the kitchen, the chefs, which is, I appreciate, lovely persons.

“They stopped in a time, which surprised me a lot. I thought I will see different things … different, as I mentioned before, technology, infrastructure. But unfortunately, we see many things that I used to see when I was 20, 21, 23. So, it surprised me a lot.”

Emergence of Alejandro Garnacho is a boost for Erik ten Hag’s project | Erik ten Hag


Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United Premier League report card after 13 games reads 23 points, a goal difference of -1 (18 scored, 19 against), and fifth place before the weekend’s matches. As United visit Fulham for Sunday’s late match, the verdict on the Dutchman’s fledgling tenure might be one of fair progress given the surgery required on a team that trailed in 35 points behind Manchester City last May.

But the nine years since United’s last Premier League triumph in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season have featured a catalogue of missteps and false dawns, and Ten Hag is the fifth manager who is attempting to solve the United conundrum: how to make England’s record champions contenders again.

Millions have been handed to each of the Dutchman’s predecessors yet the quest for a league-winning side is almost certain to reach a decade with no 21st crown. Ten Hag’s summer spend was a record single-window sum of £220m. David Moyes’s truncated 34-league-game tenure cost £64.6m, the bill for Louis van Gaal’s (2014-16) was £244.5m, José Mourinho’s (2016-18) ran to £376m, and Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s ended in November 2021 at £403m.

Last Sunday’s 3-1 loss at Aston Villa was the latest instance of a chronic fragility of which the prevailing factor has been the failure to build a progressive and consistent XI. Achieve this and Ten Hag will send out a side for each game that can challenge the might of Manchester City.

In Pep Guardiola’s opening year in east Manchester he repeated the need for “solidity” as he constructed his winning machine. Now “being there” is the Catalan’s mantra: City cannot win every trophy but Pep’s men should always compete. Guardiola, though, made errors in his first summer by failing to replace the ageing full-backs Pablo Zabaleta and Gaël Clichy, and judging the hapless Claudio Bravo to possess the nerve to be his play-from-the-back No 1.

At this juncture Ten Hag’s opening window appears more successful as his major arrivals – Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martínez, Antony and Tyrell Malacia – may all prove the nucleus of a bright new side. Yet there is a caveat: Guardiola inherited a squad that had been champions twice in four seasons and which boasted the lethal Sergio Agüero, David Silva’s silken talent, Vincent Kompany’s leadership, Fernandinho’s guile and the superb Kevin De Bruyne.

Ten Hag has to lead United from the psychological wreckage of a half-generation of failure while integrating his gang of new acquisitions into a squad of which only Luke Shaw and Bruno Fernandes may be of the requisite quality. Cristiano Ronaldo is 37 and temperamental, Marcus Rashford ranges between potent and peripheral, David de Gea’s errors can cost points, Harry Maguire is sluggish and Scott McTominay would not feature in a Guardiola reserve side.

Bruno Fernandes in action for Manchester United against Aston Villa.
Bruno Fernandes has scored only two goals this campaign. Two seasons ago he notched 18 in 37 league appearances. Photograph: Ryan Browne/Shutterstock

So we observe the lurch between convincing (2-1 versus Liverpool, 3-1 over Arsenal), embarrassing (1-2 to Brighton, 4-0 at Brentford, 6-3 at City), and disappointing – the losses to Villa and Real Sociedad, the latter handing Ten Hag’s men a Europa League last-32 tie against a Barcelona of Robert Lewandowski, Pedri and Gavi.

The Dutchman also has to deal with the entitled late-career Ronaldo, who believes it is acceptable to walk out on team and manager – against Rayo Vallecano and Tottenham – plus an attack that can seem toothless and has missed the serially injured Anthony Martial. To find United’s highest Premier League scorer you must scroll to 18th place in the charts, where Rashford stands on four goals, with Fernandes next in 49th (two), while Casemiro and Ronaldo have one apiece.

Fernandes’s goal drought is a puzzle Ten Hag has to solve. The playmaker seems caught in a perpetual game of kick-and-rush, chasing the ball rather than finding space and scoring positions. It is a miscalculation that if corrected can return him to the form of two seasons ago when he scored 18 goals in 37 league appearances.

Ronaldo, too, is a factor in this: Fernandes’s rampant campaign of 2020-21 ended in United finishing second under Solskjær but was followed by the No 7’s arrival in the close season. Wrong player at the wrong time.

Solskjær should have bought a midfielder of Casemiro’s or Declan Rice’s quality; instead the Portuguese remains at the club, taking up a centre-forward berth and draining £500,000 a week from the budget for any replacement. In this sense the petulant Vallecano and Spurs exits plus Ronaldo’s desire to leave in the summer have worked for Ten Hag, as a footballer whose powers are obviously waning can more easily be left out of the team.

If it is difficult to find a taker for Ronaldo’s eye-watering salary in January – a payoff could be the way to engineer his departure – the emergence of Alejandro Garnacho is a definite boon for the Ten Hag project. The winger’s latest impressive display came as a substitute in Thursday’s Carabao Cup tie with Villa, when he lit up Old Trafford, creating the goals for Fernandes and McTominay that took United through.

The Argentinian is fast, direct and fearless and at 18 represents a gleaming future: an apt symbol of the era Ten Hag hopes to create.

Ten Hag aiming to sell Maguire next summer in Manchester United rebuild | Manchester United


Manchester United will consider offers for Harry Maguire next summer, with Erik ten Hag intent on selling his captain to help fund a continuing overhaul of the squad. Maguire cost £80m but the club realise they may have to accept a considerable loss to sell him.

The news comes days before England’s World Cup 2022 campaign begins in Qatar, where Maguire is expected to be a first choice for Gareth Southgate. However, the 29-year-old’s stock has fallen considerably at United.

Having been made captain under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, who signed him from Leicester in August 2019, he has started only one Premier League match under Ten Hag since being in the XI for the 2-1 loss to Brighton and 4-0 defeat at Brentford in the opening two matches, and is now in effect fourth-choice centre-back.

Ten Hag’s No 1 pairing is Raphaël Varane and Lisandro Martínez, and Victor Lindelöf was preferred to Maguire to partner Martínez in Sunday’s 3-1 Premier League reverse at Aston Villa in the absence of the injured Varane.

Maguire signed a six-year contract that has an option to extend to 2026. The length of his deal, his salary of about £190,000 a week and his dramatic loss of form mean he may be hard to move on for a price anywhere near £80m.

Ten Hag admires the player’s professionalism but views Maguire’s sluggish pace as a problem and wants to sell him to add true competition for Varane and Martínez and enhance the quality of the defence.

The manager is also preparing to release Fred when the midfielder’s contract expires in June. United have an option to extend his deal for another 12 months but this is not expected to be taken.

Ten Hag has been impressed with Fred’s application and team ethic but is keen to overhaul a midfield in which only Casemiro has proven to be a consistent top-class performer.

Fred was signed by José Mourinho in 2018 for £52m and the 29-year-oldhas been named in Brazil’s World Cup squad.

‘Right culture’: Ten Hag wants United to have right values amid Ronaldo storm | Manchester United


Erik ten Hag saluted his Manchester United players for channelling the spirit of Fergie Time to end a turbulent few days on a high. The manager watched Casemiro head a stoppage-time equaliser at Chelsea before once again addressing the issue of Cristiano Ronaldo, who was not at Stamford Bridge but remained in the thoughts of everybody.

Ten Hag suspended Ronaldo after the striker refused to enter as a late substitute in Wednesday’s 2-0 home win over Tottenham and stormed off down the touchline. Ten Hag wants to hear contrition from Ronaldo before he invites him back into first-team training on Monday.

Asked how important the point against Chelsea was after the Ronaldo flashpoint, Ten Hag said: “Of course it was a big moment in the matter of the week to get a point and it was a well-deserved point.

“But it doesn’t have any matter with the case [of Ronaldo] because [with that] it is more important to have the right culture, the right standards and values. For the longer term it is always more important and in the end that will bring you into the right position.

“I’m happy with this point when you are capable to fight back like we did. We did it last week against Omonia [in the Europa League] to get the win [in the last minute] and we did it here. When you are down and you show resilience, that is a really big thing for big teams to have in their capabilities. That is what Casemiro, among others, is bringing to this squad, this team.”

The occasion was marred by homophobic chants from the United enclosure, with Ten Hag saying that they did not belong in the stadium. The Football Association added in a statement: “The FA strongly condemns the use of the term ‘rent boy’ and we are determined to drive it out of our game. We continue to work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service as well as the UK Football Policing Unit, in relation to the use of this term.

Raphaël Varane walks off with an injury.
Raphaël Varane walks off with an injury which puts his chances of playing in the World Cup for France in doubt. Photograph: Chloe Knott/Danehouse/Getty Images

“We stand firmly against all forms of discrimination and we are striving to ensure our game is a safe environment for all, which truly embraces diversity and challenges hateful conduct both on and off the pitch. We believe football is everybody’s game, and we will continue to do our utmost to use our influence to drive meaningful change so that our game is for all.”

Chelsea issued a statement, saying: “Chelsea Football Club finds all forms of discriminatory behaviour totally unacceptable and we condemn the language used by some individuals today at Stamford Bridge. We are proud to be supporting Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign and today acts as proof that we must do more to make football a game for everyone.”

United lost Raphaël Varane to a muscle injury, the defender walking off round the edge of the pitch and plainly fearing for his chances of playing in the World Cup for France. He was abused by the Chelsea support as he fought to control his emotions.

“When Varane came out [of the game], it [the abuse] was the same on the other side with the Chelsea fans, so don’t do it,” Ten Hag said.

The Ronaldo situation dominated the discussion in the Sky Sports studio, with Gary Neville saying that his old teammate must leave United. “Cristiano Ronaldo is going to have to go, I think, to somewhere else that’s going to play him every week because he can’t accept being on the bench. I think end it this week or create a truce to get to the World Cup and then end it because it has to end.”

Bruno Fernandes, the United captain, said: “We don’t talk about that. We keep it inside. We have to deal with that inside and no one else has to know what we want or think. The most important thing for everyone including Cristiano is that the team wins.”

‘I have to set standards and values’: Ten Hag on why he suspended Ronaldo | Manchester United


Erik ten Hag has stated that he is in charge of “standards and values” after suspending Cristiano Ronaldo for Saturday’s trip to Chelsea.

The manager acted after Ronaldo refused to come on as a substitute and exited down the Old Trafford tunnel during Wednesday’s win over Tottenham.

Ten Hag said: “I am the manager, I am responsible for the top sport culture here and I have to set standards and values and I have to control them. We are a team and in the team we have values and standards and I have to control that.”

The manager referred to Ronaldo previously leaving Old Trafford before the close of July’s friendly with Rayo Vallecano after the forward had been replaced at half-time.

“After Rayo Vallecano I told [him] it was unacceptable but he was not the only one. But that is for everyone, so when it’s the second time there will be consequences. That is now what we did. We miss him tomorrow, it’s a miss for us, for the squad, but I think it’s important for the attitude and mentality of the group and now we have to focus on Chelsea as that is the most important thing.”

Ten Hag took the decision to suspend Ronaldo despite Anthony Martial, his other frontline No 9, remaining injured.

Ronaldo’s walkout marks final curtain on his waning power at Manchester United | Cristiano Ronaldo


Cristiano Ronaldo’s latest walkout on Manchester United marked two significant ends. The final curtain on supporters’ unconditional love for a pouting superstar who as an unused replacement could not stomach sticking around to celebrate a scintillating win over Tottenham. It is also the death knell of this 37-year-old being a relevance – to Erik ten Hag and the United side he seeks to build – as underlined by the manager dropping him from the squad for Saturday’s game at Chelsea.

The two are connected. Fans witnessed the finest display of their team in recent memory and saw a man who draws about £500,000 a week sulk because Scott McTominay, Christian Eriksen and Anthony Elanga were preferred when Ten Hag made changes. They watched a footballer who enjoys unadulterated hero status due to his brilliance hurl it back in their faces by acting as if he can and should overshadow their club.

More material is how performing a second stomp-out in less than three months underlines Ronaldo’s waning power. In July, at half- time during a friendly against Rayo Vallecano, Ten Hag had the temerity to replace a player who was not close to match fit after missing most of pre-season (because of a family issue). Ronaldo’s reaction was to depart Old Trafford before the final whistle in a first challenge to the new manager’s authority. This, too, was a squad member who at the start of the summer had sent out smoke signals that he wished to leave.

Cut to Sunday and United’s show of class in honouring Ronaldo’s remarkable feat of 700 club goals with an on-pitch presentation from Sir Alex Ferguson, which was followed with a disgruntlement (by now hardly news) at being taken off during the goalless draw with Newcastle.

Three days later, Ten Hag restored Marcus Rashford to the starting XI at Ronaldo’s expense. The 52-year-old, whose management blends people skills, intelligence, tactical acumen and a hard edge, was pithy in explaining why. Ronaldo’s legs were simply not up to the “good press” needed to combat the visitors.

Cue Tottenham being smothered expertly as the tactical ploy worked a dream, with Fred and Bruno Fernandes goals handing United a handsome triumph. All without Ronaldo, whose eschewing by Ten Hag even as a substitute showed his retreat into further insignificance, having previously been a replacement only in the wins against Liverpool (2-1) and Arsenal (3-1). An equally damning Ten Hag verdict on Ronaldo’s import was found in the manager ignoring him when the team took a serious beating at Manchester City (6-3). Instead, Rashford and Jadon Sancho started while Anthony Martial was the cavalry Ten Hag sent for.

It is hardly Ronaldo’s fault he is in the winter of a sparkling career. But what he could do is accept this while continuing to fight – in the correct way – for a starting berth. The next episode in the Ronaldo soap opera will be intriguing, though observing Ten Hag suggests the manager will play a shrewd hand. He may also have fined Ronaldo for Wednesday’s strop and there is the material question of how the teammates he deserted view this moody superstar.

Cristiano Ronaldo walks through the tunnel to leave Old Trafford
Cristiano Ronaldo walks through the tunnel to leave before the end of the game against Tottenham at Old Trafford. Photograph: Matt West/Shutterstock

Respect may be evaporating – not for the talent, hard work, serial silverware, personal honours and the 817 career goals – but for a character who continues to suggest being the antithesis of the all-for-one spirit Ten Hag knows is vital to achieve success.

The manager will be conscious Ronaldo can still be a potent weapon – predominantly from the bench – so expect him to offer calm dispatches at Friday’s media briefing when being quizzed on the affair, the player’s worth and his future. Any and all answers will be parsed for subtext because an inescapable truth is that the ideal scenario – for Ten Hag, his group and Ronaldo – would be for the player to leave as soon as possible –, which is in the January window.

Few clubs are able to afford a player with Ronaldo’s salary, which was the prevailing reason why he did not depart in the summer. But if this same issue seems to remain regarding the winter market, it feels increasingly irrelevant as the side evolves. In exiting on Wednesday Ronaldo bolstered Ten Hag’s assessment that he is peripheral to United – there to be deployed when and if required but in no way a shoo-in for the XI on the grounds of former glories and a glittering CV.

As a metaphor, too, for his second coming at United (after the 2003 to 2009 spell) Ronaldo striding off is apt: it points to the sense of him as a cipher, a garlanded perfectionist who, despite being one of the greats, remains unknowable, whose profile beyond the pitch is via image-conscious, choreographed social media posts, with the true persona fiercely guarded.

On Thursday evening, Ronaldo issued a statement on Instagram that accepted responsibility but stopped short of an apology. “I’ve always tried to set the example myself for the youngsters that grew in all the teams that I’ve represented,” he wrote. “Unfortunately that’s not always possible and sometimes the heat of the moment get’s the best of us.”

Erik ten Hag delaying contract decisions on Marcus Rashford and David de Gea | Manchester United


Erik ten Hag is yet to decide whether David de Gea and Marcus Rashford will be offered new contracts, with Manchester United’s manager choosing to focus on performance.

De Gea, who made his 500th appearance for the club in Sunday’s draw with Newcastle, and Rashford each have deals that expire in June, though the club have an option of a further year for both. Rashford is 25 on 31 October.

Asked about De Gea, who will be 32 in early November, Ten Hag said: “We didn’t make a decision on him but what I can say is that I am really happy with David de Gea as a keeper. His first two performances of the season were not his best but after you see he brings us a lot for the defence department, gives stability and as a person I like him – I can cooperate with him really well. But first we go to the winter and then we will talk about how to deal with this.”

Ten Hag was asked whether the same applied for Rashford, Fred and Diogo Dalot who, like Luke Shaw and Cristiano Ronaldo, are also out of contract in June.

“In this moment we only think about performing,” he said. “We have a lot of games to go, so I don’t want to get that interfered by talks.”

He denied the players’ futures were unresolved in order to motivate them. “Some players get motivated when they play for a contract,” he said. “But it is not why we handle it like this. We just want to restore Man United, develop the squad, bring everything to a better level.

“We work on a way of play and also on the culture and we need quality players who are highly motivated. Such players we are looking for and luckily we have them in the squad so I am happy with the squad and the motivation they all have. The cooperation is quite good.”

Cristiano Ronaldo is out of contract in June 2023
Cristiano Ronaldo, out of contract in June 2023, has struggled for game time this season. Photograph: Matthew Ashton/AMA/Getty Images

United host third-placed Tottenham on Wednesday after taking 16 points from nine matches. Ten Hag was asked whether he was happy with the team so far, considering the rebuild required.

“That is a good question,” he said. “There are obviously many problems and we had to integrate many players, deal with problems offensively from the start: Cristiano Ronaldo was unavailable [in pre-season], Anthony Martial was not on the pitch and [then] didn’t play a full game until now. I’m sure with two No 9s present and fit in a good combative shape, the results will improve.”

Shaw claims Manchester United team has not always been picked on merit | Manchester United


Luke Shaw has claimed the Manchester United team was not always picked on merit under Erik ten Hag’s predecessors and that the new manager’s approach keeps “everyone on their toes”.

The England left-back lost his place to Tyrell Malacia after United’s 4-0 drubbing at Brentford in August but has returned to the starting lineup for the past two Premier League games against Newcastle and Everton. Shaw admits he has no issue with being dropped over a loss of form but believes that fair standard of selection has not always been applied.

Shaw said: “The good thing with this manager is that if you’re not playing well then you won’t play. In the past that’s not been the case but I think the good thing about this manager is that he’s keeping everyone on their toes. He makes sure that everyone is 100% every day. If you’re not at it then you won’t play. That’s a positive thing. We all know that. And for me I’ve just got to keep working harder.”

The 27-year-old says he could not argue with Ten Hag’s decision to drop him after a poor start to the season. “I didn’t really need him to say anything to me – I knew,” Shaw said. “I knew the first two games were nowhere near good enough. I completely understood that it was my time to come out of the team. The results were bad, my performances were not good enough.

“I just had to keep training hard every day so the manager could see I was training hard. I was just waiting for my opportunity and had to bide my time because the team were doing well and we were winning. You can’t moan; I just had to be there every day with the team, being involved and helping the team, whether that is starting or being on the bench.”

Cristiano Ronaldo to fight FA charge of improper and/or violent conduct | Cristiano Ronaldo


Cristiano Ronaldo will be supported by Manchester United as they attempt to ensure he does not receive a multi-game ban when answering a Football Association charge of improper and/or violent conduct regarding the knocking to the ground of a young Everton fan’s phone after the defeat at Goodison Park on 9 April.

Ronaldo has been cautioned by Merseyside police in August after it reviewed video footage and he is not expected to deny the charge but wishes to explain the circumstance and any mitigation. Erik ten Hag said the club would help Ronaldo, who has until Monday to respond to the FA.

“We talked about that and he will not accept it,” the manager said, meaning Ronaldo will not accept an automatic penalty but will put his case.

United host Omonoia Nicosiaon Thursday in their fourth Europa League Group E match, looking to complete the double over the Cypriot club after beating them 3-2 last week. Anthony Martial is unavailable because of the back problem sustained in Sunday’s 2-1 win at Everton. Ten Hag understands the frustration, the striker having also had hamstring and achilles problems this season.

“I’ve had several talks with him about that,” he said. “I’m really disappointed for him – from the quality in all the minutes [this season] he played he did very well, also Sunday. He played well, a good assist for Antony for the first goal, but also in the pressing he was really good. He was an important factor that played well in the first half.”

Martial is not training and may also miss Sunday’s visit of Newcastle. “We will see how he develops,” Ten Hag said.

If United finish second they will face a playoff against a third-ranked team from the Champions League group phase. “I told the players weeks ago before the break that it’s important to get No 1 in this group,” Ten Hag said. “Our aim is always to win all the games, but it’s clear and we want to avoid that.”

Ten Hag and Frank Lampard pay tribute after Cristiano Ronaldo’s 700th goal | Cristiano Ronaldo


Erik ten Hag and Frank Lampard led tributes for Cristiano Ronaldo after the Manchester United star became the first player in football history to score 700 goals at club level.

The 37-year-old reached the landmark when hitting United’s winner at Everton – 20 years and two days after opening his account for Sporting.

Ronaldo is also the leading goalscorer in international men’s football and the Champions League, and his phenomenal achievement drew praise from both managers at Goodison Park.

“That is really impressive,” said Ten Hag. “To score 700 goals is a huge performance. I’m really happy for him. I congratulate him on that performance and I’m also happy as it’s his first goal this season in the Premier League. He had to wait for it and I’m sure there will be more goals.”

Everton manager Lampard, who played against Ronaldo for Chelsea and England, added: “It is outstanding. He is one of the greatest players to have graced the game and in an era when we have had him and Messi. The comparisons between them doesn’t matter.

Cristiano Ronaldo shows seven fingers, one for each century of goals in his career
Cristiano Ronaldo shows seven fingers, one for each century of goals in his career Photograph: Carl Recine/Action Images/Reuters

“They are both incredible players in football history. The numbers they have racked up are abnormal numbers that have become normal. When he was on 699, I wanted him to score in the Europa League the other night. But in the cold light of day you have to give him credit. It is amazing.”

The United manager believes Ronaldo’s confidence has suffered this season without a Premier League goal, but backed the veteran to improve after ending his drought. Ten Hag added: “Every player needs it, even when you are the best in the world. I have worked with many goalscorers and they need goals in every season to have that feeling, to have confirmation of their intuition. Once they have some goals they come in a flow and games go easier. That will happen with him as well.”