Solskjaer justifies subbing off Ronaldo in Young Boys defeat

Enduring a terrible start to their European campaign, the Red Devils came back without a single point from their visit to Bern.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has justified subbing off Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes during Manchester United’s match against Young Boys.

Manchester United were heavy heavy favorites going into the game fell but fell to a shock 2-1 defeat at the home of the Swiss champions.

Ronaldo put his side on the front foot inside the first quarter of an hour, but Young Boys showed great fighting spirit till the very end and turned the match around.

United played with 10 men for the majority of 90 minutes, and after the hosts found the equalizer at minute 66, Solskjaer took off two of his best players and replaced them with Jesse Lingard and Nemanja Matic.

If the Norwegian manager’s decision wasn’t already questionable enough, Lingard made a woeful pass near his goal that resulted in the opposition scoring the winner in the final moments of the match.

Forget about banter and rivalry but how in the world do you call yourself a coach and substitute Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo in one match????? As a football fan it's annoying. As a non-Man United fan, it's extremely pleasing.
— Frank Edoho (@frankedoho) September 14, 2021

“The game had gone 70-odd minutes, they had been running a lot, both on Saturday and today,” Solskjaer told the press when asked to explain subbing off Ronaldo and Fernandes, as Sky Sports reports.

“The astroturf takes its toll as well and we wanted Nemanja’s experience to keep hold of the ball and Jesse’s legs.

“Ronaldo is exceptional… But we have to look after him as well and it felt like the right moment to take him off.”