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Cristiano Ronaldo completed his fairytale return to Manchester United last summer – but are they better off without him?

United finished second in the Premier League in 2020-21 and then bolstered their squad by signing Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho alongside Ronaldo.

The 37-year-old scored a brace on his second debut against Newcastle and United were tipped to challenge Liverpool and Manchester City for the Premier League title.

But things have gone downhill since then and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked in November following some embarrassing defeats and a dreadful run of form. Ronaldo has also come in for criticism due to his perceived lack of running and pressing.

He has scored just two goals under new manager Ralf Rangnick and has failed to find the back of the net in his last five games, his longest goal drought since 2010.

We've taken a look at United's record with the striker in the starting XI and compared it to their record without him since the start of the 2021-22 season.

As the stats show, United actually have a higher win rate and average more points per game when Ronaldo is starting.

The Portugal international is also United's top goalscorer this season and it's not surprising that they average more goals per game when he's playing.

But the Red Devils do improve defensively when Ronaldo is left out of the starting XI and they also lose fewer games on average.

With Cristiano Ronaldo starting

Games: 22

Wins: 12

Draws: 3

Defeats: 7

Points per game: 1.77

Win rate: 54.5%

Loss rate: 31.8%

Goals: 36

Goals per game: 1.63

Goals against: 32

Goals against per game: 1.45

Without Cristiano Ronaldo starting

Games: 10

Wins: 3

Draws: 6

Defeats: 1

Points per game: 1.5

Win rate: 30%

Loss rate: 10%

Goals: 14

Goals per game: 1.4

Goals against: 9

Goals against per game: 0.9

obembet:
Cristiano Ronaldo completed his fairytale return to Manchester United last summer – but are they better off without him?

United finished second in the Premier League in 2020-21 and then bolstered their squad by signing Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho alongside Ronaldo.

The 37-year-old scored a brace on his second debut against Newcastle and United were tipped to challenge Liverpool and Manchester City for the Premier League title.

But things have gone downhill since then and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked in November following some embarrassing defeats and a dreadful run of form. Ronaldo has also come in for criticism due to his perceived lack of running and pressing.

He has scored just two goals under new manager Ralf Rangnick and has failed to find the back of the net in his last five games, his longest goal drought since 2010.

We've taken a look at United's record with the striker in the starting XI and compared it to their record without him since the start of the 2021-22 season.

As the stats show, United actually have a higher win rate and average more points per game when Ronaldo is starting.

The Portugal international is also United's top goalscorer this season and it's not surprising that they average more goals per game when he's playing.

But the Red Devils do improve defensively when Ronaldo is left out of the starting XI and they also lose fewer games on average.

With Cristiano Ronaldo starting

Games: 22

Wins: 12

Draws: 3

Defeats: 7

Points per game: 1.77

Win rate: 54.5%

Loss rate: 31.8%

Goals: 36

Goals per game: 1.63

Goals against: 32

Goals against per game: 1.45

Without Cristiano Ronaldo starting

Games: 10

Wins: 3

Draws: 6

Defeats: 1

Points per game: 1.5

Win rate: 30%

Loss rate: 10%

Goals: 14

Goals per game: 1.4

Goals against: 9

Goals against per game: 0.9

Lalasticlala
Seun
mynd44

The stats says it all... Even though he is not playing the best football of his career, ManU is still better with him on the field.

dawnomike:
The stats says it all... Even though he is not playing the best football of his career, ManU is still better with him on the field.

Ronaldo is the cost of this nonsense happening to him, by coming back to Man U. He should have just gone to Man City where he would have scored a lot of goals and win trophies. Who knows if that would have inspired Messi to be in top form. Because I know they inspire each other. No player on earth right now can inspire them, because they are the ones that can inspire each other. I really miss the competition between them.

obembet:
Ronaldo is the cost of this nonsense happening to him, by coming back to Man U. He should have just gone to Man City where he would have scored a lot of goals and win trophies. Who knows if that would have inspired Messi to be in top form. Because I know they inspire each other. No player on earth right now can inspire them, because they are the ones that can inspire each other. I really miss the competition between them.

making sense...

obembet:
Ronaldo is the cost of this nonsense happening to him, by coming back to Man U. He should have just gone to Man City where he would have scored a lot of goals and win trophies. Who knows if that would have inspired Messi to be in top form. Because I know they inspire each other. No player on earth right now can inspire them, because they are the ones that can inspire each other. I really miss the competition between them.

He should have gone to City yẹn yẹn yen
Guardiola never wanted his ass

Like I always say, this is not the right time for him to return to old trafford.

.

Madam don drop "hit single".

The earlier we become optimistic and embrace the reality before our eyes that Messi and Ronaldo are a GIFT to sports, the better for our mental health.

I am 100% Ronaldo fan right from Man Utd to real Madrid and juventus till he returned to Man Utd. Ronaldo is greatness personified. I appreciate his existence.

Messi on the other hand is wonderful. I admire his level of play.

I am never going to draw a line between both players anytime in the future. All I do is look at their stats and pick a challenge from them by asking myself, "GUY, WHAT HAVE YOU ACHIEVED IN YOUR LIFE AS AN INDIVIDUAL"?

I draw strength from Ronaldo a lot. A whole lot.

I see them in a personal view than the public way of viewing sports that ends up with comparison.

Just check a human being in Ronaldo as an Idol, rich, famous, powerful, wealthy, consistent, always developing himself, Instagram most following, Instagram most earning, role model to people across the world. Yet down to earth.

Messi, almost has all in Ronaldo, yet humble.

An average Nigerian with such achievement may find it difficult being such humble.

I wake up most days with the energy I draw from both guys, especially, Ronaldo.

Always be positive.

CR7 na bad market.

Pessi fans will always say otherwise rather than focus on their farmer's league

with or without him, united is useless...he is as meaningless as the "k" in knief....nothing change bro..
e come even be like say cr7 bin better under ole than his rangnick..
no goals in 5 games for a striker like cr7, not even a penalty or a tapin..its too bad naa n so unlike cr7..
even Juve stint no worst like dis..

obembet:
Ronaldo is the cost of this nonsense happening to him, by coming back to Man U. He should have just gone to Man City where he would have scored a lot of goals and win trophies. Who knows if that would have inspired Messi to be in top form. Because I know they inspire each other. No player on earth right now can inspire them, because they are the ones that can inspire each other. I really miss the competition between them.

which man.city? so dt una go say city topping n about to win d league is bcox of cr7 abi??
make e stay united n try get pass athletico, dt PSG vs united UCL clash go hold n u go see enough inspiration..
u guys say he can do magic with 10 dry woods abi? i no wan see am for teams like city n PSG, mk e finish his homecoming..

Truvelisback:
CR7 na bad market.

I swear....Mk pep or zidane no mumu go sign am for free next season o...mk e finish e challenge for united n win dm trophies..

JohnnyPalmer:
He should have gone to City yẹn yẹn yen
Guardiola never wanted his ass

simple, pep was offered n never needed him, if pep needs him, 25m iw chicken change to cough out for a big brand like cr7 bt instead city said dey wanted him for free....same city wey buy grealish for 100+ n even keep 130+ for kane before spurs spoil plans..
united see settings, rush go buy bad market....if cr7 still get dt oil for head, no me mendes for dey offer am Gv clubs like gala, instead na clubs go de knock for am..

paulolee:
which man.city? so dt una go say city topping n about to win d league is bcox of cr7 abi??
make e stay united n try get pass athletico, dt PSG vs united UCL clash go hold n u go see enough inspiration..
u guys say he can do magic with 10 dry woods abi? i no wan see am for teams like city n PSG, mk e finish his homecoming..

Bro you get mouth...

Athemisia:
Bro you get mouth...

yes na..i de always talk d truth naa

Still changes nothing, Manchester united are poor with or without Ronaldo but there have shown glimpses of what rangnick is trying to do even in the first half of their last three games they have been good only for dem to break down to default settings again

He is the king of football others na for pepper soup.

ronaldo has been a liability as of late

same as maguire.

Make I park here first

Any man u fan who is tired can decamp to Newcastle they got rich owners and are looking for supporters or loan himself to arsenal for the main time

Woow...interesting

Issokay!!!

The Goat

Some people in the media are trying to pin all of man United problems on Ronaldo

My question to those that think like the media here is that

Was man United good before Ronaldo came? If you say yes, then why was mourinho sacked and why has "Ole out" trending before Ronaldo came back?