Cristiano Ronaldo just wants to get away from Manchester United for the summer. However, the poisoned transfer saga ends up being one of gridlock. The superstar stays, sits on the bench and now scores again – against Sheriff Tiraspol, who once beat Real Madrid and whose coach went to war.
The goal, which Cristiano Ronaldo never wanted to score, brought the fallen superstar very close to a dream mark. When Manchester United made it 2-0 (2-0) at Sheriff Tiraspol, the 37-year-old scored from the penalty spot. It was his first goal of the season, his first Europa League goal and his 699th goal at club level.
“He needed that goal. He’s come close to scoring before but he wanted it so badly,” said Erik ten Hag, Manchester United’s Netherlands manager. However, there was a lot of excitement before Ronaldo wanted this goal.
Because the truth is that the Portuguese had long hoped for a move to fulfill his dream of another year in the Champions League. But whatever he tried, whichever club he said was his current dream club, a change didn’t materialize.
Cristiano Ronaldo cost Thomas Tuchel his job
The transfer saga was so poisoned that it even played a small part in the dismissal of Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea. Like many of his colleagues, the German coach had no use for the outdated but highly paid former superstar. The new co-owner Todd Boehly, however, looked above all at the marketing opportunities surrounding Ronaldo. This discrepancy is also said to have been partly responsible for Tuchel’s departure.
While Tuchel is currently unemployed but could soon be back on the sidelines at a big club, Ronaldo spent a lot of time on the bench at Manchester United in the first few weeks of the season. While former Ajax coach ten Hag slowly found his formation, Ronaldo faded from view. He has not started the Premier League since the 4-0 loss to Brentford on August 13, 2022. The Red Devils got four wins from the next four games, Ronaldo came up with four short appearances with a total of 78 minutes playing time.
Quite different in the Europa League, which is second-rate for United and Ronaldo. While the English club has been a guest in the Champions League in recent years, the Portuguese has had no outside experience apart from two appearances for his first professional club Sporting Lisbon in the 2002/2003 season in the previous competition, the UEFA Cup to present to the premier class. Because it was supposed to stay that way, he wanted to leave. We told about it at the beginning of these lines.
Sheriff Tiraspol’s trainer in wartime operations
Ronaldo gained his first experience last week in the 1-1 draw against Real Sociedad and he was allowed or had to play his first away game in the Europa League at Chisinau’s Zimbru Stadium. There, in the capital of the Republic of Moldova, Sheriff Tiraspol is playing the home games in the Europa League this season.
The club from the Russian-backed separatist region of Transnistria found modest fame last season by taking part in the Champions League. The 2-1 win against eventual title winners Real Madrid was described as one of the biggest sensations in the history of the tournament, but in the end it was no more than a little inattention on the part of the Spanish giants. They defeated Liverpool FC in the final in early June 2022 and were crowned the kings of European football.
Meanwhile, the Russian war of aggression had also reached Transnistria and Sheriff Tiraspol. A few days after the attack on Ukraine, coach Yuriy Vernydub said goodbye. He was drawn back to his native country. He was one of many prominent names who wanted to defend their homeland.
“Sheriff Tiraspol’s coach Yuriy Vernydub is ready! He defeated Real Madrid in the fall. Now he’s also involved in territorial defense,” commented Ukrainian portal Zorya Londonsk at the time.
Cristiano Ronaldo waves 700th goal
Vernydub didn’t come back, now coaching Ukrainian first division side Kryvbas, who remain at the bottom of the table with just one point after four games in the recently launched Premier League. The squad also scattered to the winds. Luxembourg’s Sebastien Thill, whose dream goal in the 89th minute secured the win against Real at the Bernabeu, now plays in the second division with Hansa Rostock. Others moved to Kuwait, Iran or Cyprus.
The team that Cristiano Ronaldo now faced with Manchester United had nothing to do with the one that triumphed against Real Madrid. There were eleven other players on the field at the start of the game.
Manchester United didn’t care anyway. The Europa League game was just another step in the long road to recovery for the great and now chaotic giants of world football under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Former Dortmund player Jadon Sancho, who is worried about his place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, opened the game with a classic Sancho. Then Ronaldo ran for the penalty and scored the goal he never intended to score.
“When he’s back to 100 percent he’ll score more goals,” said ten Hag. One more thing, then he has 700 goals at club level. Then the headlines will belong to him again. Pity will become admiration.
Stephen Uersfeld