Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most decorated sports figures of the modern era.
This summer, his return to Manchester United was by far the most important transfer story in recent years.
Despite being well stacked in attacking options, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer couldn’t turn down the opportunity to bring back one of the greatest footballers of all time, especially when his team are preparing to win the most great honors this campaign.
Athletic’s recent article explains how to deal with the phenomenon that is Ronaldo.
Journalists Daniel Taylor and Dominic Fifield refer to an incident shared by Paul Clement, who was Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant at Real Madrid.
Clement said: “We were coming back from a Champions League away game one night. You’re always late to get off the ground after doping tests.
“You arrive at the airport and it takes forever for the dumpsters to be loaded onto the plane. So by the time we get back to the training ground in Madrid, it’s often 3 or 4 in the morning. “
“I turn around and Cristiano pulls Pepe and Fabio Coentrao towards the main building. “We’re going to take an ice bath. It’s 4 am, and not only does he do it, but he involves others as well.
“It’s ultra-professional. These are the things he does over and over again. And it’s that compound effect of doing the little things well that got him to that superhuman level.
The example above reiterates Ronaldo’s hard work and dedication to improving in all aspects of his game.
Clement went on to say: “My experience working with these exceptional players, Cristiano being at the top, is that they are great to work with them.”
“They want to train well. They want it to be organized and enjoyable. They want it to be professional. They expect to do their work in the gym before training. They then expect video meetings. This is the highest level.
“Carlo was very good at handling this aspect of things, being firm but fair, demanding respect both ways: ‘I’m a man, you are a man. I was a player; you are a player. I respect your work; you must respect my work.
The two journalists mention Aitor Karanka, José Mourinho’s former assistant and his point of view on Ronaldo.
Karanka said: “A player like Cristiano is always different but with Jose the team has always been above everyone else.”
“There were times when Cristiano scored goals, as he always has, but there were also times when Jose and the team knew they had to defend.”
“And Cristiano was the first to defend too. You have to make him see that apart from all the goals he scores, there are other times when you have to do certain tactical things. ”
A player of Ronaldo’s caliber and reputation needs to be managed well. At Man United, Sir Alex Ferguson was like a father figure to him, making him the player we all know today.
Taylor and Fifield say how difficult it can be to deal with a footballer of his status and abilities, especially when the manager himself has a big ego i.e. Jose Mourinho.
“It of course helps Solskjaer that he’s a manager who tries to tap into the psyche of his players. But Ronaldo will be waiting for the lead role, and that can create his problems.
“Plus there are challenges for Kieran McKenna and Michael Carrick as United first team coaches.”
“How do you improve a player who has taken the game to its highest level? How to tell a five-time Ballon d’Or what it could do best?
“The answer, in short, is you don’t.”
–
