Cristiano Ronaldo

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'He is probably fighting for fitness right now': Cristiano Ronaldo defended by Rio Ferdinand AGAIN after his poor showing in Manchester United's shock defeat by Aston Villa, as Old Trafford legend says 'no one covered themselves in glory'

* Rio Ferdinand has again backed Cristiano Ronaldo to come good at Man United
* The former Reds' defender believes the 37-year-old can turn his season around
* Ronaldo has scored just one Premier League goal for Man United this season
* Ferdinand believes no pre-season may be to blame for Ronaldo's struggles

Rio Ferdinand has continued his public backing of Cristiano Ronaldo, claiming the Portuguese star will come good at Man United despite being amidst a disastrous start to the season.

The conundrum of Cristiano Ronaldo's second-stint at Old Trafford saw more questions raised as he skippered the club to a shock 3-1 away loss to Aston Villa on Sunday.

Ronaldo, 37, has scored just one Premier League goal during United's mixed start to the new campaign with the forward struggling to convert chances in front of goal as the club's need for a new striker is brought closer into focus.

Speaking on his Vibe with Five Youtube channel, United legend and former teammate Ferdinand explained the struggling star will emerge from his bad run of form, but suggested it may take World Cup minutes with Portugal to get the veteran up to full fitness.

'No one covered themselves in glory at the weekend [against Aston Villa]. Time will tell this season, when you look at the end of the season in terms of goals and what he has done for the team.


Cristiano Ronaldo has endured a torrid start to the season at Manchester United. The Portugal and United legend (white centre) again struggled against Aston Villa on Sunday. Ronaldo has been in-and-out of the team so far this season under new United boss Erik ten Hag. Ronaldo has failed to score in nine Premier League games so far this season at Man United. Rio Ferdinand has claimed it would be a huge decision by Ten Hag to drop Ronaldo

'There's peaks and troughs through a season in terms of form. Cristiano Ronaldo right now isn't hitting the net like you are accustom to seeing him.

'He is probably fighting for fitness right now as well, if he goes to a World Cup and plays he might come back in better condition than when he left. You don't know. How many games do you think it takes you to get fit?' he added.

Retired defender Ferdinand then compared his own struggles with early-season fitness during his sensational trophy-laden Man United career to Ronaldo's current performances amid a lack of suggested fitness.

The 44-year-old pundit highlighted that players who miss pre-season, as was once in the case of Ferdinand's playing days, were always playing 'catch-up' with teammates and competitors.

Ferdinand quipped that it took him at least six matches to feel comfortable with the demands that it brought with it, saying: 'I can't remember what year it was [I missed pre-season] but more of the times around World Cup you come back later for pre-seasons and it takes you that bit longer.

'Regardless of that, I never felt fit until about six games into the season. I was always going into games pre-season always worrying about my fitness and being fit enough to get through 90 minutes.

'Being fit enough to chase a striker 40/50 yards into the channel and now blowing and thinking 'Jesus if he plays it in there again I don't know if I have the energy or sharpness to get there.'


Ronaldo scored his only goal of the current league campaign against Everton in October. Ronaldo again struggled while leading the attack for Man United against Aston Villa. Ronaldo scored 18 Premier League goals for United last season. Ferdinand has again backed Ronaldo to emerge for his current run of bad form at his old club

'Those things going into a game for the first five/six games was terrifying for me. You work your hardest and no matter how much training you do you need games.

'f you go through history and look at players who have missed pre-season they very rarely hit the heights you are used to seeing. Bear in mind, you miss a pre-season, start the season and playing every 3/4 days.

'It's very difficult to be able to play catch-up as you never catch-up and players lag behind for the rest of the season. It's very difficult. You train in between and all of a sudden go into a game with too much load and are a bit jaded.

Ronaldo and United will attempt to suspend their Premier League season on a high as they travel to face Fulham in their final game before the Qatar World Cup break.

Calls to drop the five-time Champions League winner and United legend Ronaldo have gathered further momentum with Frenchman Anthony Martial hoping to be fully-recovered from a lengthy injury lay-off.

However Ferdinand believes it would be a huge decision by United head honcho Erik ten Hag to drop the star for their upcoming trip to Craven Cottage.

'It will be a big shout (to drop him against Fulham) time will tell (if that is his last game for United). It's difficult.

'It depends how close to fitness Anthony Martial is. Is Anthony Elanga going to be fit, is Jadon Sancho, is Antony? Then you make a decision.

'Players are judged on goals and Ronaldo will always judge himself on goals. He didn't score at the weekend and that will have to be taken into account for the next game.

'By the way, our front players I don't think any of them are playing at the level we expect at the moment.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11400701/He-probably-fighting-fitness-right-Cristiano-Ronaldo-defended-Rio-Ferdinand-AGAIN.html