"I never thought he stepped over boundaries" - Mike Phelan reveals players couldn’t meet Cristiano Ronaldo's 'standards' at Manchester United
Former Manchester United assistant coach Mike Phelan has rubbished claims that Cristiano Ronaldo overstepped his boundaries at the club. He said that the legendary striker set standards that perhaps the others couldn't meet during his second stint at Old Trafford.
Cristiano Ronaldo first joined Manchester United from Sporting CP and went on to become one of the best players in the world. He left the club in 2009 to join Real Madrid, a year after Mike Phelan joined United as an assistant manager. Phelan left in 2013 but served another stint as assistant manager at the club between 2018 and 2022.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, returned to the Red Devils in 2021 after leaving Juventus. He was their top scorer with 24 goals across competitions in the 2021-22 season but had a falling out with manager Erik ten Hag the following season. He gave an interview with journalist Piers Morgan, slamming the Dutchman, and his contract was eventually terminated in November 2022.
Mike Phelan has now shared his thoughts on Cristiano Ronaldo's time at Manchester United, saying in an interview with The Athletic (via Goal):
“When Ronaldo returned, the buzz was unreal - supporters, players. What he brought back with him was a different playing style. Ronaldo is a goalscorer. He was driven by his outstanding ability to change a game. Everything was great. And then things change from the point of view of his ambition.
“From the first time (Ronaldo was at United), when I was a coach, I just fine-tuned certain things. I tried to appeal to his strong mentality - ‘These moments are yours’. I applied that the second time around. You didn’t coach Cristiano to be a better player. All I was doing was reinforcing his belief that special players find a way.
“I was rubbing his ego a little bit. But he delivered. He was older, wiser and set high standards - sometimes standards others couldn’t keep to."
Phelan concluded:
“We can all look back in hindsight, and I think Ole has commented on it, how that dynamic might have changed. But if you wanted someone to produce something, he did it. I honestly never thought Cristiano stepped over boundaries."
Ronaldo eventually joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr in January 2023.
Manchester United legend believes Cristiano Ronaldo would be welcome under Ruben Amorim
Former Manchester United striker Teddy Sheringham believes Ruben Amorim would be open to having Cristiano Ronaldo at the club. He said that the 39-year-old striker could join Amorim as a coaching staff or in any other capacity. However, he added that he doesn't see Ronaldo becoming a coach after retirement.
Sheringham said:
“Cristiano Ronaldo would be very welcome back at Manchester United under Ruben Amorim, but he is onto bigger and better things. I think that Ronaldo will follow in the path of David Beckham in doing things away from coaching, higher profile things around the world.
"I'm sure he'd be very, very welcome in any capacity coming back to the club, but I doubt that he'll be a coach.”
Cristiano Ronaldo is in the twilight of his career while he continues playing with Al-Nassr and Portugal.
Meanwhile, his compatriot Ruben Amorim is set to become the new Manchester United manager. He is expected to bring his own coaching staff to the club when he starts on November 11.