Manchester United’s top-scorer hasn’t scored in his last five games across all competitions, which is his longest goal drought since 2010.
Cristiano Ronaldo ‘should score more goals’ as Manchester United have created ‘enough chances’ in the last few matches, according to interim manager Ralf Rangnick.
For most footballers, a five-match goalless run is no big deal. But Ronaldo is not most players. He is the exception, the one every team turns to when in need of that all-important goal.
So the fact the Portuguese forward has failed to score since the 3-1 win over Burnley on December 30 hasn’t gone unnoticed.
United have won just two of their last five matches in this period. The 3-1 win at Brentford on January 19 is the only game where the Red Devils have scored more than once.
Why aren’t the goals going in for Ronaldo?
“It’s not only about Cristiano Ronaldo,” said Rangnick in a pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s game against Southampton.
“He should score more goals, it’s obvious, I think we are creating enough chances and enough opportunities in the last couple of games but we just didn’t score enough goals, but this is not only an issue with Cristiano, it’s an issue with the other players, especially the offensive players. We don’t score enough goals.
“If you bear in mind how many chances we create, and this is also something that needs to get better in the next couple of weeks.
“At Burnley [during Tuesday’s 1-1 draw], in 70 of those 90 minutes, it was very, very, very close to the game plan we spoke before the game and now it’s about rewarding ourselves and also getting the results we should deserve.”
Rangnick also announced that left-back Alex Telles could return to face Southampton after his recent absence with COVID-19.
But midfield duo Fred (COVID-19) and Nemanja Matic (shin injury) are both unavailable, as is center-back Eric Bailly (ankle).
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