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    Watch Cristiano Ronaldo score spectacular goal against Brighton to end 587-minute drought for Man Utd

    CRISTIANO RONALDO’S goal drought is finally over after he broke the deadlock against Brighton.The Manchester United forward, 37, looked on the verge of tears during Saturday’s draw with Southampton as his barren run continued.
    Cristiano Ronaldo scored a spectacular striker against BrightonCredit: Reuters
    The Portuguese star grabbed his first goal of 2022 against BrightonCredit: Getty

    For the third game running, the Red Devils took the lead but were pegged back as the game finished 1-1.
    And footage of Ronaldo appeared to show the Portuguese superstar struggling to contain his emotions.
    In the clip posted by beIN Sports, he cuts a forlorn figure, looking up to the sky helplessly and then closing his eyes to compose himself.
    Ronaldo was on his longest goal drought for 13 years, with his last strike coming way back on December 30.
    However, his misery finally ended on Tuesday as he fired United ahead against the Seagulls in the 50th minute of their 2-0 victory.
    Scott McTominay stole possession from Yves Bissouma and found the run of Ronaldo.
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    The veteran still had plenty to do but he sent three Brighton defenders to the floor with a dummy before blasting a fierce drive into the corner of the net to end his 587-minute drought – just moments after old foe Lionel Messi had missed a penalty for PSG against Real Madrid.
    And he exploded with emotion as he raced off to perform his famous goal celebration in the corner after his first strike since December.
    Ronaldo’s flash of brilliance against Brighton ended his droughtCredit: Rex

    Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford in dramatic fashion last summer, signing a two-year deal.
    However, things have not quite gone to plan with just this just his ninth Premier League goal this season.
    As revealed by SunSport, he is sensationally considering quitting the club.
    The iconic forward has told pals he is finally starting to feel his age and his relationship with Ralf Rangnick is reportedly ‘totally fractured’.
    He has not helped himself by storming down tunnels and publicly moaning on and off the pitch.
    ⚽ Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford More

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    Ralf Rangnick changes Man Utd formation just 24 minutes into Brighton clash after being dominated at Old Trafford

    RALF RANGNICK ditched Manchester United’s 4-3-3 formation after just 24 minutes against Brighton.The interim manager first opted to go with a 4-2-2-2 formation in a bid to gain more control during games after arriving at Old Trafford in December.
    Man Utd started with a 4-3-3 against BrightonCredit: The Sun
    Ralf Rangnick was forced into a tactical change after just 24 minutesCredit: Reuters
    He changed his side to this formationCredit: The Sun
    Following victories over Crystal Palace and Norwich, Rangnick then tweaked that to a 4-3-3 system.
    United beat both Brentford and West Ham playing that way before they were beaten on penalties in the FA Cup by Middlesbrough and then held by Burnley at the weekend.
    Now after a slow start against Brighton at the Theatre of Dreams on Tuesday night, he was spotted telling his stars of another change.
    Just 24 minutes were on the clock when Rangnick was spotted signalling for change to 4-2-3-1.
    His side had offered little going forward as the Seagulls looked the most dangerous throughout the opening exchanges.
    And that tactical switch enabled United to effectively push Bruno Fernandes further forward alongside Jadon Sancho and Anthony Elanga.
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    But it failed to have an impact before the break as the hosts were booed off by the home crowd at half time.
    Fortunately it did pay off as United ran out 2-0 winners.
    Speaking ahead of the clash as to why he had recently opted for 4-3-3, Rangnick said: “This is something we had to find out.
    “Of course Paul Pogba has now only been available as of two weeks ago and Fred can play in that number eight position too.
    “To start with for me, it was logical to stick with the formation that we were used to and the team has played before.
    “As you know the first game against Crystal Palace and against Norwich we played in a 4-2-2-2 quite like how Southampton is playing now.
    “Once we realised that players like Bruno [Fernandes], Fred and Paul Pogba were better playing to their assets and their strengths, it suits us better when we play them in a No 8 position.”
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    Rio Ferdinand reveals Man Utd legend Sir Alex Ferguson would ‘go nuts’ over dressing room leaks after Gary Neville rant

    SIR ALEX FERGUSON would ‘go nuts’ over any dressing room leaks at Manchester United, according to Rio Ferdinand.Former United defender Gary Neville this week claimed he knows who is behind the ‘disgusting’ dressing room leaks that are undermining the club.
    Rio Ferdinand pulled no punches when he explained how Sir Alex Ferguson would react to dressing room leaksCredit: PA
    Sir Alex Ferguson was well-known for running a tight ship at Old TraffordCredit: PA
    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked in November with the club languishing in seventh place in the Premier League.
    Ralf Rangnick has been appointed on an interim basis until the end of the season, but rumours of player fall-outs and a dressing room split continue to swirl.
    Now Ferdinand, who made 312 appearances for United between 2002 and 2014, says Fergie would fume if it happened under his watch.
    Speaking on his YouTube channel Five, the 43-year-old said: “The odd time a team would come out, and you could never say who it was.
    “It would just be like ‘someone’s told their agent’ and then the agent’s told someone in the media just to soften that relationship they’ve got with them to keep them sweet
    “And then the manager used to go nuts. ‘How’s this getting out on a Monday morning? If I find out who this is, watch’.
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    “I just feel that’s down to the players to come together, and that’s down to the players to hold that meeting and say, ‘listen, this can’t keep happening because we’re going to try and find out who this is, whose agent this is’.
    “And if it comes back it’s someone’s agent then the finger will be pointed directly at you in this changing room, so just keep some stuff private.”
    Neville is furious with the fact details from the squad are being revealed to the press – and suggested he knows which players and representatives are responsible.
    The reality is that we do not like it, but we know who it is.Gary NevilleOn who is leaking Man Utd dressing room secrets
    Speaking on his Sky podcast, the former right-back said: “I remember when I joined Sky and we had the Champions League in the early years, and I went over to Napoli to do a game involving Chelsea.
    “It was when Andre Villas-Boas was their manager and he left out Frank Lampard, Michael Essien, Ashley Cole – four or five prominent players.
    “That is what managers tend to do in their final days at a club, as they see it as a free hit.
    “I remember sitting there at lunchtime with our team and they were getting messages of team news being leaked and the manager being slagged off, and I sat there thinking ‘does this actually happen’?
    “Players agents and PR teams were briefing the media on a matchday about what was going on inside a club, and it was the first time I had seen it and known for it to happen – it really unnerved me.
    “That is happening at Manchester United now – they are at it, the PR teams, the agents and the marketing teams, as a self-preservation for their own player.
    “But what they do not realise is that unfortunately, when they go to the media then those media people go to us – so we know who is briefing.
    “The reality is that we do not like it, but we know who it is.
    “We are not going to throw people under a bus here because we have that journalistic respect – but they are it in the same way that Chelsea were all those years ago.
    “They need to stop it and work as hard as they can.”
    Gary Neville is fuming that he knows who is behind Man Utd’s dressing room leaksCredit: PA
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    Three new formations Man Utd could deploy to get best out of Cristiano Ronaldo and end his worst goal drought in decade

    CRISTIANO Ronaldo is experiencing his worst goal drought in a decade.And the ageing Manchester United talisman looks a shadow of his former self.
    Cristiano Ronaldo has failed to score for six games in a rowCredit: EPA
    The temper tantrums and outbursts aimed at team-mates are starting to tarnish his glittering legacy at the Theatre of Dreams.
    But the 37-year-old is also struggling under the management of interim boss Ralf Rangnick.
    Ronaldo is said to be among a number of ‘heavyweight’ players who think the German is out of his depth at Old Trafford.
    Their relationship hasn’t been helped by Rangnick’s readiness to haul the striker off or even start him on the bench.
    In truth, CR7 has looked sluggish up front in recent weeks and has failed to hit the net in six games in a row.
    Qualifying for next season’s Champions League is an absolute must for Rangnick this term.
    But with the race for fourth in the Premier League looking tighter than ever, maybe it’s time for drastic action to help Ronaldo find his scoring boots once again.
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    LAST TIME OUT
    When he hasn’t been starting among the subs, Ronaldo has most recently been deployed as a lone striker in Rangnick’s 4-2-3-1 formation.
    Against Southampton he was flanked by the England duo of Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashord – with Bruno Fernandes in support.
    But the Portugal star looked off the pace and short of fire power on the few occasions he did get himself into decent positions.
    And the fact he hardly bothers to pressure opponents means United are regularly on the back foot when out of possession.

    A sluggish Ronaldo looked isolated against Southampton
    MORE SUPPORT FROM MIDFIELD
    Assuming Rangnick opts to keep Ronaldo in the starting XI for tonight’s visit of Brighton, one solution could be to send in midfield reinforcements.
    Fernandes could be joined by Paul Pogba in a more advanced role to form an attacking triangle with the striker.
    While Fernandes’ relationship with his international team-mate has appeared strained at times, Pogba loves playing with him.
    This line-up asks an awful lot of Scott McTominay in the holding role, while Rashford and Sancho might not think much of dropping back into midfield.
    But throwing creative midfielders forward could help to stop Ronny looking so isolated up top.

    Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba could form a three with RonaldoCredit: Getty
    FINDING HIM A STRIKE PARTNER
    Axed boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer dabbled with a 3-5-2 during his ill-fated spell in the United hotseat.
    And it worked on occasion – Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani both netted up front together in that formation against Tottenham.
    But Cavani is still out with a hip problem and Rashford hardly seems to be connecting with his veteran team-mate.
    Perhaps Rangnick could experiment and throw Fernandes further forward as an out-and-out No10.
    His touch around the box could slip Ronaldo in closer to goal so he isn’t left struggling to keep up with speedy wingers.

    United’s Portugal duo could be given a chance up front togetherCredit: EPA
    DROPPING BACK INTO A DEEPER ROLE
    It would take the bravest of managers to suggest to Ronaldo his time as a goal poacher is over.
    But Rangnick has shown he’s ready to tackle issues head on by benching the legend in recent games.
    Could the elderly striker find a new lease of life dropping back as a playmaker?
    With the speedy Rashford leading the line, Ronaldo could put his years of experience to use in pulling the strings behind – although his ego might not take it.
    He hasn’t scored in ages and often moans at team-mates for failing to play him in – maybe it’s time for him to lay on some assists for the youngsters.

    Perhaps it’s time for Ronaldo to drop back and help othersCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

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    Cristiano Ronaldo spends five hours at Man Utd’s training ground on Sunday and was first player in and last to leave

    CRISTIANO RONALDO is on his longest goal drought since 2009 – but it isn’t for the want of trying.The Manchester United striker was the first one in and the last one out of training on Sunday after firing another blank in the 1-1 draw with Southampton.
    Cristiano Ronaldo was the first one in and last to leave United training on SundayCredit: Splash
    Ronaldo is on a six-game barren runCredit: Splash
    The 37-year-old arrived at Carrington at 9.20am and did not leave until 2.20pm.
    It is now six games since Ronaldo last scored for United – that came in a 3-1 home win against Burnley on December 30.
    The last time he went six games without a goal was in 2009 in the final months at Old Trafford before he joined Real Madrid.
    Ronny has still netted 14 times in all competitions this season after rejoining United from Juventus in summer.
    The Portugal star continued his barren scoring run by failing to finish into an OPEN GOAL against Southampton.
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    After Jadon Sancho neatly slid in Ronaldo, he cleverly rounded Saints goalkeeper Fraser Forster.
    Just when it looked like he was about to end the longest barren run in front of goal of his career… Ronaldo missed.
    Usually such a lethal finisher, his shot towards an empty net lacked any conviction at all.
    And heroic defending from Romain Perraud saw him get back in time to intercept the ball as it trickled its way towards the goal-line.
    He turned his back in disgust and threw his hands up in the air after failing to bag such a simple chance.
    Sancho did score soon after to spare Ronaldo’s blushes, but Southampton hit back in the second half through Che Adams.
    The game finished 1-1, making it back-to-back draws for Ralf Rangick’s side.
    Ronaldo penned a two-year deal in the summer after making an emotional return to Manchester United.
    But there are suggestions he could cut his stay short and leave the club in the summer after starting to feel his age.
    United face Brighton at home on Tuesday night, giving Ronaldo another chance to finally find the net.
    Ronaldo could not believe he missed an open goal against Southampton

    ⚽ Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford More

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    Man Utd boss Ralf Rangnick SLAMS Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as he hints Norwegian is to blame if club don’t make top four

    MANCHESTER UNITED boss Ralf Rangnick has laid the blame for the club’s desperate battle to make the top four squarely with his predecessor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.United are currently in fifth spot, one point behind West Ham a place above.
    United boss Ralf Rangnick is clear he is playing catch-up this seasonCredit: EPA
    They are a mammoth 23 points behind table-toppers and fierce rivals Manchester City.
    Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to Southampton saw them fluff their chance to get into the top four.
    Speaking after the game, Rangnick was keen to point out that they are playing catch-up due to issues BEFORE he came to the club.
    On the prospect of missing out on a Champions League place, the 63-year-old said: “It has always been a concern since Ole left the club.
    “That was one of the reasons why he probably had to leave the club and of course, results like today’s [Southampton draw] don’t make things any easier.
    “Against Villa, Burnley and today we were one or 2-0 up and gave away two points.
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    “This can happen once but it shouldn’t happen three times and with those points the situation would be different but it’s not. This is what we have to face.
    “We have to realise the truth and obviously with results like today’s it doesn’t make it any easier to finish fourth at the end.”
    Solskjaer was sacked in November with the club in seventh spot – and 12 points off the top of the table.
    That position brings Europa Conference League football next season – something the management and fans probably would rather avoid.
    United are one point ahead of sixth-placed Arsenal and three ahead of Wolves in seventh.
    Rangnick will be hoping his side bounce back from the disappointing 1-1 draw with Southampton when they travel to take on Brighton on Tuesday.

    ⚽ Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford
    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked with United in seventh spotCredit: PA More

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    Cristiano Ronaldo spends five hours at Man Utd training ground on Sunday and was first player in and last out of door

    CRISTIANO RONALDO is on his longest goal drought since 2009 – but it’s not for the want of trying.The Manchester United striker was the first one in and the last one out of training on Sunday after firing another blank in the 1-1 draw with Southampton.
    Cristiano Ronaldo was the first one in and last to leave United training on SundayCredit: Splash
    Ronaldo is on a six-game barren runCredit: Splash
    The 37-year-old arrived at Carrington at 9.20am and did not leave until 2.20pm.
    It is now six games since Ronaldo last scored for United – that came in a 3-1 home win against Burnley on December 30.
    The last time he went six games without a goal was in 2009 in the final months at Old Trafford before he joined Real Madrid.
    Ronny has still netted 14 times in all competitions this season after rejoining United from Juventus in summer.
    The Portugal star continued his barren scoring run by failing to finish into an OPEN GOAL against Southampton.
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    After Jadon Sancho neatly slid in Ronaldo, he cleverly rounded Saints goalkeeper Fraser Forster.
    Just when it looked like he was about to end the longest barren run in front of goal of his career… Ronaldo missed.
    Usually such a lethal finisher, his shot towards an empty net lacked any conviction at all.
    And heroic defending from Romain Perraud saw him get back in time to intercept the ball as it trickled its way towards the goal-line.
    He turned his back in disgust and threw his hands up in the air after failing to bag such a simple chance.
    Sancho did score soon after to spare Ronaldo’s blushes, but Southampton hit back in the second half through Che Adams.
    The game finished 1-1, making it back-to-back draws for Ralf Rangick’s side.
    Ronaldo penned a two-year deal in the summer after making an emotional return to Manchester United.
    But there are suggestions he could cut his stay short and leave the club in the summer after starting to feel his age.
    United face Brighton at home on Tuesday night, giving Ronaldo another chance to finally find the net.
    Ronaldo could not believe he missed an open goal against Southampton

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    ‘Embarrassing’ – Man Utd captain Harry Maguire slated by Owen with ex-Old Trafford ace saying defender looks ‘petrified’

    HARRY MAGUIRE’S lack of pace has been labelled ‘embarrassing’ by former Manchester United striker Michael Owen.The Red Devils captain endured another torrid afternoon after being tormented by Southampton’s Armando Broja yesterday.
    Harry Maguire suffered a torrid afternoon against SouthamptonCredit: Rex
    Michael Owen has slammed the Man Utd defender’s displayCredit: BT Sport
    The £80million centre-back was also left in no-man’s land by Che Adams as the Saints secured a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
    Now Owen, who used to give defenders nightmares with his lightning pace back in his heyday, has admitted how he fears for England defender Maguire.
    Speaking to Premier League Productions, he said: “I did fear for him and that was quite embarrassing.
    “He’s got no pace at the best of times but he was outwitted there (by Broja).
    “Then you’re thinking don’t try to redeem your mistake, he just got away with it and I don’t think it was a penalty.
    “But you are fearful when he’s running towards him man you think are you going to try to do something stupid but he just gets away with it.”
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    Owen added: “His lack of pace is a real problem. We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again.
    “The goal, he could have been squeezing up but he’s petrified of that space in behind.”
    Maguire was one of England’s best performers at Euro 2020 but his form has come under huge scrutiny this term at United.
    He was also on the end of heavy criticism for his defending in midweek in the draw at Burnley after allowing Wout Weghorst to turn and set Jay Rodriguez up for the equaliser.
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