The manager of Manchester United, Ralf Rangnick has insisted that Cristiano Ronaldo missed the Manchester derby on Sunday, March 6, because he suffered a hip flexor ahead of the game.
Recall that Manchester United visited Etihad Stadium on the said date to take on the reigning Premier League champions. Unfortunately, United which went to the game without Cristiano Ronaldo and Edison Cavani, lost 4-1.
Before the game, coach Ralf Rangnick told reporters that Cristiano Ronaldo was not included in the squad for the Manchester derby because he was injured. He also said Cavani was not included in the squad because of fitness issues.
Also, before the match, Roy Keane, a Sky Sports pundit who is also a former player of Manchester United disagreed with the coach and stressed that the coach’s comment did not add up.
He said: “There seems to be more to the Ronaldo story when a manager comes out and talks about a hip flexor. I don’t get it. We talk about Ronaldo being a machine and very rarely getting injured but every now and again he comes out with that… a hip flexor? It doesn’t add up to me.”
After the game, Keane noted: “The Ronaldo stuff before the game worried me. Something is going on in the background with the club, the team, and the players.
“There’s something really amiss and we’ve been saying this for months now. There was no hiding place today and it was hard to watch.”
Also, it was reported that Ronaldo’s Katia Aveiro liked a social media post claiming that Ronaldo was not injured before the game. Hence, coach Ralf Rangnick had to explain Ronaldo’s absence again after the 4-1 bashing at the hands of Manchester City.
Coach Rangnick told reporters that he believes in the report of his medical team, adding that it was discovered that Cristiano Ronaldo was injured two days before the Manchester derby.
“I have to believe my medical department,” the coach said. “My doctor came to see me on Friday morning before training and told me Cristiano Ronaldo cannot train because of some problems with his hip flexor and the same was true on Saturday and that’s why he couldn’t be part of the squad.”
🗣️: "I have to believe my medical department"
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 7, 2022
Ralf Rangnick reiterated that Ronaldo's absence in yesterday's derby clash was due to a hip flexor injury.
An Instagram post liked by Ronaldo's sister this morning suggests she has questioned the injury claims 🤔 pic.twitter.com/vlhZCXA3Bu
Aside from Cristiano Ronaldo, Coach Rangnick was left with no choice but to explain Edison Cavani’s absence:
Most football enthusiasts were surprised that coach Ralf Rangnick did not name Edison Cavani in the squad that faced Manchester City on Sunday.
Hence, after Manchester City defeated Manchester United, coach Rangnick had to explain to reporters why Cavani was absent. He said he had to accept what his medical team say about his players’ fitness.
“What does it help if I tell you it’s frustrating?” Rangnick said. “It’s just a fact if players tell the doctor and the medical department that they are injured and cannot play. I have to accept it as a manager.
“I cannot force a player to play if he thinks he’s not available because he has an injury.”
On the fitness issue of Edison Cavani, coach Rangnick said: “Edi trained in the last three days, he trained well, but he still felt after those three training sessions that he is still not fit to play.
“This is a fact and as a manager, I cannot force a player to play if he doesn’t feel fit or well enough to play.”
Cristiano Ronaldo 🚫
— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) March 6, 2022
Edinson Cavani 🚫
Ralf Rangnick answered questions on whether his two star strikers really wanted to play against Manchester City 🗣 pic.twitter.com/a0DOFmwULV
What are the stats of Ronaldo and Cavani at Manchester United this season?
So far in the 2021-2022 season, Edison Cavani has scored 2 goals and provided one assist in 15 games in all competitions. The contract of the 35-year-old Uruguayan striker will expire on June 30, 2022.
While Cristiano Ronaldo has played 31 games in all competitions in which he scored 15 goals and provided 3 assists. The contract of the 37-year-old Portuguese football star will expire on June 30, 2023.
