Erik ten Hag 'confident' Cristiano Ronaldo will score more goals

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is ‘confident’ that Cristiano Ronaldo will continue to score goals this season following his strike in Thursday’s Europa League win over Sheriff.

Ronaldo was brought back into the fold for the visit of the Moldovan champions, having been dropped from the squad altogether against Chelsea as a ‘consequence’ of refusing to come off the bench against Tottenham earlier this month and leaving early.

The 37-year-old’s longer-term future beyond the end of this season remains up in the air. His contract will expire in the summer and, having also asked to leave this past summer, United are prepared to sell in January if a suitable offer comes in. Releasing him at that stage is not seen an ideal option.

But for as long as Ronaldo is still a United player, Ten Hag believes he will contribute and was pleased with what he saw against Sheriff.

“He created and the team creates for him. We know he has the capabilities to finish. He needed a goal to get over a dead point I would say and then more will come, I am confident of that,” the United boss told BT Sport.

Scott Saunders hosts Graeme Bailey and Toby Cudworth in the latest episode of Talking Transfers. The team discuss Cristiano Ronaldo's Man Utd future, interest in Naby Keita and a decision looming for Harry Kane. Available on all audio platforms.

If you can't see the podcast embed, click here to download the episode in full!

Asked whether he expects Ronaldo to meet his own high standards over the remainder of the season during Friday's press conference, the boss added: "It's up to him, but I think when you collect all the chances he creates, the team creates for him in the last weeks, you see he's still capable to get in the right positions and he's still capable of finishing them. I think it's possible.

"I know some see it like this but I don't have a Europe team and I don't have a Premier League team. I look at the opponent and what we need, what suits the opponent.

"Now I have to focus on West Ham United for Sunday. We will pick the team to start but also have a plan B or plan C in the pocket to win that game.

"That's what we need finally, to win games, and for that we not only need 11 players, we need the whole squad."

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