Saha: 'As for Ronaldo, Man Utd may not lose 0-7 to Liverpool'
Saha considers Ronaldo's departure as a new beginning, helping coach Ten Hag improve the team. But the striker, who scored 42 goals in 124 matches for Man Utd between 2004-2008, still believes Ronaldo can still be useful to Man Utd in some difficult circumstances, such as the tragic loss to Liverpool over the weekend.
"Of course, it's hard to know for sure, but seeing Man Utd lose 0-7 to Liverpool, I can only think that Cristiano could have been useful," Saha said on March 7.
Cristiano Ronaldo shocked when he publicly condemned Man Utd and coach Erik Ten Hag in November 2022. Not long after, the two sides agreed to terminate the contract half a year early. Man Utd gave Ronaldo the freedom to leave without compensation.
Ronaldo has scored 145 goals in 346 matches for Man Utd. However, in the first 16 matches of the 2022-2023 season, the 38-year-old striker only scored three goals. Ronaldo even missed a number of matches, or sat on the bench due to lack of discipline and not high performance.
Since Ronaldo left, Man Utd has almost become a new team. They won 16 matches, drew three and lost only two. The culmination of Man Utd's journey to revival was a 2-0 win over Newcastle in the League Cup final, their first title in six years. Man Utd also eliminated Barca in the Europa League play-off round, reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and beat Man City 2-1 in the English Premier League.
The 0-7 loss to Liverpool came a week after Man Utd won the League Cup. The two teams played even until Cody Gakpo cut the right foot to open the scoring in the 43rd minute. Man Utd lost two more goals from Darwin Nunez's header in 47 minutes and Gakpo's tire in the 50th minute. Since then. , "Red Devils" almost broke the battle. Liverpool scored four more thanks to Nunez, Roberto Firmino and a brace from Mohamed Salah. Losing to Liverpool 0-7 is Man Utd's biggest defeat in the history of participating in the English championship.
Big loss to Liverpool, but Man Utd is still bright to win tickets to the Champions League next season. "Red Devils" are ranked third in the Premier League with 49 points after 25 matches, seven points more than Liverpool. Liverpool are ranked fifth, three points behind Tottenham but playing one game less. Man Utd still has the opportunity to win the Europa League, where they are about to meet Betis in the 1/8 round. Man Utd is also preparing to meet West Ham in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
Ronaldo went to Saudi Arabia to play for Al Nassr from January 2023. CR7 receives an income of up to 200 million USD per year at the new club. In his first seven matches with Al Nassr, Ronaldo scored eight goals.
