Cristiano Ronaldo came firing out the blocks under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer upon returning to Manchester United in the summer, but it’s been a different story under Ralf Rangnick
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In pictures: Atletico Madrid v Man Utd
Cristiano Ronaldo requested Ralf Rangnick alter his tactics in a behind-the-scenes meeting between the Manchester United forward and interim boss.
Ronaldo came firing out the blocks under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer upon returning to Old Trafford in the summer, but it’s been a different story under the German.
There were fears when he was appointed, the Portugal star would not be a good fit for his style of football with his renowned high pressing philosophy.
And that’s what has come to fruition as Ronaldo has struggled to adapt to Rangnick’s system, only recently halting a six-game goal drought against Brighton.
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Ronaldo reportedly took it upon himself to approach Rangnick to see what can be done to get the best out of him.
The Athletic claims the 37-year-old attended a meeting with Rangnick after the draw with Southampton on February 12 when the mood around the camp was tense after three successive 1-1 results including their FA Cup exit to Middlesbrough.
Ronaldo suggested United should play two players up front so that he could have a strike partner who could providesupport to him at the top end of the pitch.
Solskjaer used a 4-4-2 on a regular basis as the Norwegian played a mixture of Marcus Rashford, Edinson Cavani and Mason Greenwood alongside Ronaldo.
But Rangnick has used it sparingly with 4-3-3 seemingly to be the manager’s preference.
And that’s what he has opted for since his talks with Ronaldo as Paul Pogba has come back into the side with Jadon Sancho showing signs of life on the flank and Rashford on the other side of Ronaldo as the no.9.
Ronaldo had another disappointing night at the Wanda Metropolitano against his old foes Atletico Madrid.
Anthony Elanga had to rescue the Red Devils off the bench as his equaliser with his first touch of the match secured a 1-1 draw.
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Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)
And Ronaldo was visibly frustrated throughout the match as he complained to the referee Ovidiu Hategan about how the match was officiated.
United were unable to match the physicality of Diego Simeone’s men who raised their game in the first 45 minutes.
Madrid put in several heavy challenges but Hategan only showed one yellow card, which went to Marcos Llorente for a foul on Harry Maguire.
Ronaldo went down clutching his leg at one point after he was cynically fouled on the halfway line to stop a promising United counter attack.
This led to an outburst going off the field at half-time as Ronaldo gestured for the ref to get his cards out of his pocket.
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