Former Man Utd teammate reveals why Cristiano Ronaldo is struggling this season
By Amreen
Cristiano Ronaldo has struggled at Manchester United this season because his teammates "don't cross the ball enough."
That's according to Ronaldo's former teammate Louis Saha, who believes the 37-year-old thrives on whipping in and attacking crosses into the box.
Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford last summer amid much fanfare but has failed to live up to expections and replicate his excellent form that made him a Red Devil legend in his first stint at the club.
And Saha believes a lot of his dip in form is due to not receiving enough crosses from the rest of the team.
"Because of the way teams are playing now, you don't have that much crossing," the Frenchman told The Mirror.
Louis Saha on his relationship with Ronaldo:
— The CR7 Timeline. (@TimelineCR7) March 11, 2022
“Brilliant. He was younger obviously, he was a superstar already. He was very confident, I had some really nice spells with Cristiano & Rooney, it was unbelievable. I see him today as like the ultimate striker. He’s unbelievable.” pic.twitter.com/5CGB3GgW4B
"Back in the day there was a lot of crossing, Giggsy [Ryan Giggs] on one side and Cristiano on the other, and you could be [Ruud] van nistelrooy, Carlos Tevez or me or Wayne Rooney, you could receive balls.
"But I've barely seen one cross in the box, no one crossing the ball."
"The thing is it's easier physically to be a number nine than a number seven, especially nowadays when you have to really defend," he added.
"He's 37, he's not a machine, and I feel like it's a clever move and in some way his experience around the game, whatever his position, can be used correctly and I think he proved that really well.
"So I understand, and it reminded me a little bit of my style because I can come on one side or the other and disrupt the defensive line."