Ronaldo doubles down on his belief we can succeed

The Portuguese club legend sat with down Geoff Shreeves at Carrington for an in-depth discussion ahead of this Sunday’s Premier League blockbuster against our historic rivals Liverpool. 

Ronaldo speaks with great conviction when describing the “potential” of our squad and how he is back at Old Trafford to win trophies, stating our team still needs time to adapt to recent changes. 

Cristiano goes on to show his elite mentality when asked about external critics, reveals the details of his recent speech to the players and explains why he was so angry after the draw with Everton. He also states he is not ready to retire from international football while feeling on top of his game. 

Read the main points from his interview with Sky Sports below…

 

🗣 "I know my role in the team."

Cristiano Ronaldo says he has been brought back to #MUFC to score goals and use his experience to help develop the club’s younger players 🔴 pic.twitter.com/dHfJIwpstJ

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 22, 2021

WE NEED TIME TO ADAPT

“We are in a moment in my opinion that Manchester (United) do a few changes; they buy me, they buy (Raphael) Varane and (Jadon) Sancho. “The adaptation will take time, even the system of the game that we play, but I think step by step we have to put it in our mind that everything is possible.

“I don't speak only about my individual stuff, I put the collective in first place. To win things as a collective, it's more easy to win individual stuff, I still think it's possible. Everyone should know their role. I know my role in the team, in the club… my role is to score goals, to help the team with my experience and know-how to understand the game.

“If everyone is thinking like that, sacrifice for the team, I think we will be a better team. We have fantastic supporters behind us, fantastic stadium, fantastic team, so we have to carry on like that.”

 

🗣️ "I am here to win trophies. I am not here for a holiday"

Cristiano Ronaldo is determined to help #MUFC bring home some silverware this season

📺 Watch full exclusive interview ahead of Man Utd v Liverpool on Super Sunday pic.twitter.com/xS9hwqHt42

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 23, 2021

SILENCING THE CRITICS

“I know when the team needs my help defensively. But my role in the club is to win, help the team to win and to score goals - [the defensive side] is part of my job. The people who don't want to see that is because they don't like me but to be honest I'm 36, I win everything so am I going to be worried about the people who say bad things about me? I sleep good at night. I go to my bed with my conscience very good. Keep going with that because I will still close mouths and win things.

“Criticism is always part of the business. I'm not worried about that. And I see it as a good thing to be honest. If they worry about me or they speak about me, it's because they know my potential and value in football still. So it's good. I'll give you an example: if you're in a school and you're the best student, you ask the worst student if he likes the best, they'll say they don't like him.

“I think the main word is that I'm still happy and enjoying football. It doesn't matter how many things I won in my career. I win everything but I'm still motivated. I'm in a new chapter of my life, even with my age, and this is why I am here - to try to win and I think Manchester needs to be at this level of winning and thinking to win big things so I'm here to help.”

MY SPEECH TO THE SQUAD

Asked about player initiations and reports he opted against singing to the squad following his return, Ronaldo explained his alternative approach.

“I said what I felt in that moment: that I'm here to win things," he said. "Manchester United is a sign [of] winning things and I'm not here for holidays. I said to them I see huge potential in this team; very young players, players with potential, and I'm here to win and to help the team to build new stuff. I didn't sing because I told them that I sang a few years ago! But it was good. The boys, they understand me, it was a good speech and I was happy that night.”

WHY I WAS ANGRY AGAINST EVERTON

Asked about footage of him muttering to himself when leaving the pitch after our draw with the Toffees, Cristiano stated he will always be angry with those results.

“I don't like to lose. [It was a] draw? Draw - but for me, to draw against Everton - who have my whole respect - at home is like a loss. Maybe I'm thinking wrong, but this is the way I motivate myself and win stuff during my career and I play for the most important clubs in the world.

“So, as I said, criticism will always exist here. I'm not hiding from that and, to be honest, I really don't care because I know football is like that. My reactions are what I feel at that moment. Most of the time when I talk it's very, very positive but sometimes, depending on the game, maybe you say things that you don't agree or whatever but it's me.

“Everyone knows me. I've always been like that; I'm not going to change now with my age. I will always give 100 per cent for this club and my reactions is part of what I am. I don't want to hurt anybody. I know there will be eyes on me because of what I am, what I achieve, what I win.

“They don't want to give me credit for the good things; they're always going to find the bad things but for me it's not a problem. Life's a constant lesson and I still learn with my mistakes, trying to improve the next game.”

I WON'T RETIRE FROM INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Away from topics involving United, Ronaldo amusingly appears confused when pressed on the idea of retiring from international football to extend his club career.

“But why? I think it's not my time yet. It's not what people want, it's what I want. It's when I feel that I'm not capable to run, to dribble, to shoot, if the power is gone... but I still have that stuff so I want to continue because I'm still motivated.

“It's the main word - [motivated] to do my stuff, to make people happy and my family happy and the fans and myself. I want to put the level even higher.

“You speak about Portugal but in the Champions League I have the most goals, the most wins, assists… everything. But I want to carry on. I like to play football. I feel good to make people happy.”

Watch the full interview with Ronaldo on Sky Sports.