Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has sent a warning to Cristiano Ronaldo that he could be left out of some of Manchester United’s upcoming matches in order to ‘manage his minutes’.
Ronaldo scored two goals in United’s 4-1 Premier League win against Newcastle on Saturday, after a 12-year hiatus away from the club.
The Red devils now have to play three matches in nine days which begins with a Champions League tie against Young Boys on Tuesday, followed up by a league match against West Ham on Sunday and an EFL Cup game versus the same team next Wednesday.
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With Solskjaer looking ahead to those games the United boss suggested that he may have to drop Ronaldo for some games in order to preserve him as best he can.
‘Cristiano looks after himself so much so I know he will recover quickly. He has had a pre-season and, of course, it’s important that we get everyone up and running and to get him up and running and to give him 90 minutes,’ the Norwegian said.
‘Just like Mason Greenwood at the other end of the spectrum at 19, the United boss has warned that Ronaldo may not be able to play every game.
‘It’s not impossible to leave him out. He is 36, Mason is 19, so it’s the same.
‘I have to manage his minutes, and I have to manage a 36-year-old’s minutes as well. Of course there is a game on Tuesday. We will see what we do.’
United will be hoping to continue their good start to the campaign going into the hectic period, after winning three and drawing one of their opening four league games of the season.
