Solskjaer admits Ronaldo return unbalanced Manchester United
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has acknowledged that bringing Cristiano Ronaldo back to Manchester United in 2021 ultimately disrupted the balance of a team that had been building momentum under his management, despite the initial excitement and goals that followed the Portuguese star’s return.
The former United manager revealed that concerns were raised internally before the deal was completed, most notably by then assistant Kieran McKenna, but those doubts were drowned out by the scale of the moment and the commercial and emotional pull of Ronaldo’s homecoming.
United started the 2021 to 22 season brightly, thrashing Leeds 5-1 on opening day and taking seven points from their first three league matches. Ronaldo’s debut against Newcastle only amplified the optimism, as he scored twice in a 4-1 win at Old Trafford, sending the crowd into raptures and seemingly justifying the decision instantly.
However, cracks appeared almost immediately. A Champions League defeat away to Young Boys exposed tactical issues, and while Ronaldo continued to score crucial goals, United’s performances dipped sharply. Five defeats in seven league games followed, culminating in a 4-1 loss at Watford that ended Solskjaer’s three-year reign in mid-November.
The context surrounding that period explains why the decision still matters. Solskjaer had finished third and second in his two full Premier League seasons, making him the only United manager since Sir Alex Ferguson to secure successive top-four finishes. His side were among the league’s most aggressive pressing teams before Ronaldo’s arrival, built around collective energy rather than individual accommodation.
Old Trafford remained loud and hopeful in those early weeks, fuelled by nostalgia and belief. United’s attacking play flowed through Bruno Fernandes, while Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood thrived in transition. Yet the dynamic shifted as the team adjusted to accommodate Ronaldo, particularly out of possession.
Key moments highlighted the imbalance. United struggled to press with the same intensity, midfield spaces opened up, and defensive transitions became slower. Solskjaer later admitted the coaching staff were forced into constant tweaks, especially when Ronaldo was not involved in the press, altering roles players had grown comfortable with.
Ronaldo’s goals came regularly and often decisively, especially in Europe, but they masked deeper problems. United’s structure with and without the ball no longer aligned, and attempts to rotate the forward sparked controversy and external pressure, undermining authority in the dugout.
The second half of Solskjaer’s season unraveled quickly. Heavy defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City underlined the gap to the league’s elite, and United’s confidence drained away as tactical clarity disappeared. Momentum swung decisively against them, and results followed the same downward trend.
Late drama off the pitch added to the sense of chaos. Dressing room morale dipped, frustrations surfaced, and the collective spirit that had defined Solskjaer’s better periods eroded. What began as a feel-good reunion evolved into a constant point of tension around selection, structure, and identity.
Looking ahead, Solskjaer remains clear on the lesson. The results of his first spell show progress and promise, but the Ronaldo decision stands as a turning point that shifted United away from their strengths. Any future return, whether at Old Trafford or elsewhere, will depend on restoring clarity, balance, and joy to a side that once looked capable of moving forward together.