
<p>Former <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/manchester-united-tv-schedule/">Manchester United</a> manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has criticized former players and claimed that re-signing Cristiano Ronaldo was a mistake. The coach made the assertions during a recent interview with <em>The Athletic</em>. It was his first in-depth discussion with the media since being fired from United nearly two years ago.</p>



<p>The Norwegian coach told the news outlet that some of his former players had inflated views of themselves. “Some weren’t as good as their own perception of themselves. I won’t name names, but I was very disappointed when a couple turned down the chance to be captain,” <a href="https://theathletic.com/4877764/2023/09/20/solskjaer-interview-man-utd-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">proclaimed</a> Solskjaer. “I was also disappointed when others said they wouldn’t play or train because they wanted to force their way out.”</p>



<h5>Coach claims Ronaldo signing ‘turned out wrong’</h5>



<p>Solskjaer helped bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to the club in the summer of 2021. The Portuguese superstar made a return to Old Trafford after 12 years away from the team. While there is no doubting Ronaldo’s ability, many questioned the move, particularly as time went on.</p>



<p>“It was a decision that was very difficult to turn down and I felt we had to take it, but it turned out wrong,” said Solskjaer about signing Ronaldo. “It felt so right when he signed and the fans felt that at that <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/newcastle-united-tv-schedule/">Newcastle</a> game, when Old Trafford was rocking (after Ronaldo scored twice in a 4-1 win). He was still one of the best goal-scorers in the world, he was looking strong.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said re-signing Cristiano Ronaldo was the &apos;wrong&apos; decision 😬 <a href="https://t.co/ak2CfO9nJu">pic.twitter.com/ak2CfO9nJu</a></p>— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkySportsPL/status/1704481347866079623?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 20, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>“When you have a group, you need everyone to pull in the same direction. When things didn’t go right, you could see certain players and egos came out.”</p>



<h2>Solskjaer has empathy for current United manager amid issues with players</h2>



<p>The news outlet then asked Solskjaer about ten Hag’s current position at the Red Devils. The current boss is struggling in his second season at the helm. United has managed just two wins in their opening five <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/">Premier League</a> fixtures of the season. Although still early days, the club currently sits 13th in the top-flight table.</p>



<p>“I know what [ten Hag] is going through. It’s a dream job, but it’s difficult,” stated Solskjaer. “You’re dealing with humans with all their problems and backgrounds — this isn’t a computer simulation. But most are good professionals who want to do well. Some think about number one first, most think of the club.”</p>



<p>Solskjaer is set to start his new position as a UEFA technical observer on Wednesday. This allows the former manager to watch and analyze <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/champions-league-tv-schedule/">Champions League</a> matches during the season. Nevertheless, the former United boss claims that he wants to get back to coaching soon. Solskjaer has not managed a club since departing the Red Devils in November of 2021.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO &amp; PA Images</em></p>


Solskjaer criticizes former Man United players in interview

Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has criticized some former players and labeled re-signing Cristiano Ronaldo a mistake.


<p>Former <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/manchester-united-tv-schedule/">Manchester United</a> defender Marcos Rojo has made interesting claims about his final years with the club. The Argentine center-back now says that former United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær&nbsp;played Harry Maguire solely because of his high price tag.</p>



<p>The England international arrived in Manchester from Leicester City in 2019 in a deal worth around $95 million. Nearly four years later, the purchase is still a record fee for a center-back. Despite the massive price tag, Maguire hasn’t exactly been a success with the club.</p>



<h2>Solskjær&nbsp;told Rojo that Maguire had to start despite form</h2>



<p>“One day I went to [Solskjær’s] office to tell him to let me leave or put me in [the starting XI],” Rojo <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/manchester-united-engman_utd/story/4935679/rojo-on-man-utd-playing-time-solskjaer-started-maguire-over-me-due-to-his-price-tag" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a>. “He knew that it was wrong that I wasn’t playing all the time. He told me that they had paid so much for [Maguire] that he had to play no matter what. And I would tell him, ‘Let me play because this guy is making huge mistakes every Sunday.&apos;”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Marcos Rojo didn&apos;t hold back on Harry Maguire 😬 <a href="https://t.co/rmkaPKdlgg">pic.twitter.com/rmkaPKdlgg</a></p>— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1651904091801493504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Despite starting in the first four 2019/20 Europa League group stage matches, Rojo rarely featured in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Premier League</a> during this timeframe. In fact, he was even left out of the matchday squad entirely at times. The South American defender managed just one start and three total appearances in the top flight during that particular season.</p>



<h5>Rojo departed United for home country</h5>



<p>Rojo eventually ended up going on loan to Argentine side Estudiantes five months after Maguire entered the fray. After a short-term loan, Rojo departed United on a free transfer to <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/boca-juniors-tv-schedule/">Boca Juniors</a> in January 2021.</p>



<p>Maguire has dropped down the pecking order under United’s current boss Erik ten Hag. However, after injuries to the aforementioned Martinez and Raphael Varane, the Englishman has once again been inserted back into the starting lineup at United. </p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Sportimage</em></p>


Former Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo has claimed that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer started Harry Maguire solely because of his price tag.

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Cristiano Ronaldo

Solskjaer criticizes former Man United players in interview

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Rojo says Solskjær started Maguire due to record transfer