Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Football Reporting
Football Reporting

Juventus

Pep Guardiola mimicked Cristiano Ronaldo in Man City training using academy kids


Pep Guardiola called up a number of Manchester City youngsters to first-team training in March and one of them was given Cristiano Ronaldo-orientated instructions

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

Messi world’s highest paid athlete with Ronaldo also featuring in Top 10

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Pep Guardiola instructed Manchester City youngsters to replicate the roles of Manchester United players before March’s Premier League clash, with one academy prospect given the somewhat unflattering task of playing like Cristiano Ronaldo.

The City boss was preparing for the second Manchester derby of the season having comprehensively defeated United 2-0 back in November. Guardiola went to great lengths with his planning for the fixture even though there was a huge gap between his side and Ralf Rangnick’s in the table at the time.

The Athletic claims he collected virtually every young prospect on City’s books so he had enough numbers for two 11-a-side training matches to simulate the derby to come. These pitted two senior XIs against two teams made up of youngsters, each of whom was given a United player to mimic.

Naturally, one academy talent was handed the job of pretending to be Ronaldo for 90 minutes, given the Portuguese superstar was the Red Devils’ top goalscorer and expected to lead the line in the derby. The report adds Guardiola instructed the youngster to press the opposition half-heartedly by approaching them and stopping when he got near.

This is a damning insight into how the Spaniard views Ronaldo’s pressing ability, which was the subject of scrutiny throughout the season. As it happened, Ronaldo was injured and therefore unavailable to feature against City, instead jetting back to his homeland to recuperate.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

In the absence of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, United suffered another heavy defeat by the Sky Blues, losing 4-1 at the Etihad as Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez were at the double. Ronaldo, meanwhile, returned to action the following weekend and scored a hat-trick as United defeated Tottenham 3-2.

Is Cristiano Ronaldo’s pressing sub-par? Have your say in the comments…

Pep Guardiola included a number of youngsters in training ahead of the derby
(

Image:

Manchester City FC via Getty Images)

One of them was tasked with pressing in a similar way to Cristiano Ronaldo
(

Image:

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Manchester United via Getty Images)

It was a vintage performance which served as a reminder of his enduring quality even at the age of 37, as well as what he can offer the Red Devils even if his pressing ability is up for debate. New manager Erik ten Hag has no doubts over Ronaldo’s quality and confirmed the former Real Madrid and Juventus star has a place in his plans for next season.

Speaking in his first press conference as United boss earlier this week, the Dutchman was quizzed on whether he would like the veteran striker to spearhead his attack and replied: “Of course.” Ten Hag was also asked what the highest scorer in football history will bring to his team and, predictably, replied: “Goals… I talk first with Ronaldo before I talk with you.”

Read More

Read More





Source link

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like

Manchester United

Erik ten Hag has nothing close to a fully-fit squad as Manchester United prepare to face Brentford away from home on Saturday and begin...

Manchester United

Manchester United and Ireland legend Roy Keane has held talks with the FAI over the vacant manager role since the decision was made to...

La Liga

Hannibal Mejbri has endured a tricky time of things during his loan spell with Spanish side Sevilla and his spell in La Liga has...

AC Milan

AC Milan defender Davide Calabria has given a long interview in which he spoke about what the club means to him, his journey to...