{"id":291386,"date":"2023-09-20T15:35:49","date_gmt":"2023-09-20T15:35:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tellmysport.com\/?p=291386"},"modified":"2023-09-20T15:35:49","modified_gmt":"2023-09-20T15:35:49","slug":"ole-gunnar-solskjaer-lifts-lid-on-cristiano-ronaldos-manchester-united-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tellmysport.com\/soccer\/ole-gunnar-solskjaer-lifts-lid-on-cristiano-ronaldos-manchester-united-return\/","title":{"rendered":"Ole Gunnar Solskjaer lifts lid on Cristiano Ronaldo\u2019s Manchester United return"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has conceded the club\u2019s re-signing of Cristiano Ronaldo \u201cturned out wrong\u201d.<\/p>\n
Solskjaer was in charge when United brought the five-time Ballon d\u2019Or winner back to Old Trafford amid much optimism and fanfare in August 2021.<\/p>\n
At the time the transfer was viewed as a coup that could potentially fuel a Premier League title challenge.<\/p>\n
Yet things soon unravelled as the team struggled and Solskjaer was sacked in November that year.<\/p>\n
Ronaldo left the club in acrimonious fashion 12 months later.<\/p>\n
Solskjaer told The Athletic: \u201cIt was about taking the next step to challenge for the title. And, unfortunately, it just didn\u2019t work out.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a decision that was very difficult to turn down and I felt we had to take it, but it turned out wrong.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt felt so right when he signed and the fans felt that at that Newcastle game (when he scored twice), when Old Trafford was rocking. He was still one of the best goalscorers in the world, he was looking strong.\u201d<\/p>\n
But he added: \u201cWhen you have a group you need everyone to pull in the same direction. When things didn\u2019t go right, you could see certain players and egos came out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Solskjaer was also the manager when the club signed England defender Harry Maguire in the summer of 2019.<\/p>\n
The Norwegian feels the recent criticism, and even ridiculing of Maguire, has been very unfair.<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cHarry Maguire \u2013 it\u2019s a disgrace that he\u2019s getting so much abuse. I feel sorry for him, but he\u2019s a strong lad and I hope it turns for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe raised our defence big time when he arrived and lifted the mood around the place.\u201d<\/p>\n