Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tried to defuse the situation in the Man Utd dressing room at half time against Atalanta before Cristiano Ronaldo did his best Sir Alex Ferguson impression
Video Unavailable
Solskjaer previews Man Utd v Liverpool in Premier League
Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes inspired Manchester United’s comeback against Atalanta as they intervened in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s half time team talk.
The Portuguese stars reportedly took it upon themselves to tell their Manchester United teammates that their first-half performance was not up to scratch as they were down 2-0 in the Champions League clash as players argued among themselves.
Solskjaer was trying to defuse the situation before Ronaldo did his best Sir Alex Ferguson impression as he gave United players the hairdryer treatment, according to The Sun.
It’s claimed the forward asked his fellow United stars ‘Are you not ashamed?’ as he urged his teammates to show some fight in the second half.
(
Image:
Manchester United via Getty Imag)
Do Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes have too much influence in the Man Utd dressing room? Comment below
Solskjaer then took back control of the team talk, before Fernandes chimed in and demanded the Old Trafford boss change his tactics.
Fernandes lined up as the no.10 in a 4-2-3-1 formation but asked if he could drop into a deeper role to get on the ball more.
Whatever was said, it seemed to work as United completed a last-gasp comeback against the Italians.
And Fernandes and Ronaldo didn’t just have a say off the field, they backed it up on the pitch too.
The former Sporting Lisbon man assisted Marcus Rashford to get United back in the game, before Ronaldo sealed the three points with an emphatic finish in stoppage time.
This is an example of where their ego’s can have a positive impact on the team, but it also suggests that they are in control of the dressing room – and not Solskjaer.
Gary Neville warned his former teammate that the Portuguese pair could have too much power at the club – one of six issues that need to be addressed if he is to turn things around at United as they dropped out the top four last weekend with a 4-2 defeat to Leicester.
(
Image:
Getty Images)
He said on Monday Night Football: “The aura of Ronaldo, Fernandes is walking around with his arms out all the time, Pogba doesn’t know if he is staying or leaving, the emerging captain Maguire thinking how he controls this lot.
“They have got six grenades where the pins have been pulled out in the dressing room.
“It can work, I’ve seen Del Bosque manage a Real Madrid team to the Champions League, Zidane has done it with great players, I think PSG are like that at the moment. You see Pochettino there and you think it’s not really a Pochettino team.
“Ole’s got a bit of that now. He has Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Edinson Cavani, Paul Pogba and Harry Maguire.
“Massive characters in the dressing room, Maguire will look at Varane in the dressing room and think am I the top dog anymore?
(
Image:
Sky Sports)
“You have the dynamic of Cavani sitting on the bench who was begged to stay but now has Ronaldo, Rashford and Greenwood in front of him.
“Sancho has come in for £75m and now he is looking like he is in and out.
“All these issues are developing, Solskjaer has to somehow bring that group together.
“He’s got to find a basic defensive shape that the players buy into and allow the others to go win the games for him. It’s the only way for him to get the season back on track.”
Pick up your FREE Panini Official Premier League Trading cards this weekend – Find out how here
