MANCHESTER UNITED boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer joked he was going to drop Cristiano Ronaldo because he is closing in on his goalscoring record.
The 36-year-old – who has been left on the bench by his manager for today’s game against Everton – has netted 123 times across two spells for the Red Devils and now sits just three behind manager Solskjaer’s tally of 126.
Ronaldo was set to make his 200th Premier League appearance for Man Utd on Saturday lunchtime before it was revealed he had been dropped.
And Solskjaer cheekily hinted on Friday that he could bench Ronaldo to avoid him overtaking his scoring record.
Speaking to the club website, he said: “Yes, he’s not going to play anymore now!
“How many behind is he, three? Okay, a few more then!”
Solskjaer reached 126 goals in 365 games for Man Utd, while Ronaldo sits just three behind him having played 68 fewer matches for the club.
The former Real Madrid man netted 118 times in his first spell before leaving for the Spanish giants in 2009.
He then made a shock return to the club in the summer as he left Juventus after three years in Italy.
And it didn’t take Ronaldo long to reacquaint himself with scoring in a Man Utd shirt.
He has already netted five times in as many games since beginning his second spell with United, including a stoppage time winner against Villarreal in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Speaking after scoring for Man Utd in Europe yet again, Ronaldo said: “I have history with this club and I want to do it again, not only for me but to push the team.
“Sometimes the players, we try to do our job, to play good and score goals but sometimes it is not possible.
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“The fans have this role as well when the team is in a difficult moment, they need to push us. This is why I say and ask them if they can do that.
“They give us motivation to keep going and to keep running and keep believing. So, today, this is what we felt. We are so happy. A very important win and we are in a good way now.”
Paul Pogba and Jadon Sancho have also been dropped by Solskjaer for today’s game as he recalls Anthony Martial and Edinson Cavani to the starting line-up.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
