Manchester United could be five points clear at the top of the Premier League – if it wasn’t for Cristiano Ronaldo.
OK, it’s not quite that simple, but the club’s top-flight record since Ronaldo’s exit makes for rather interesting reading.
GETTY2Ronaldo’s time at United ended badly
AFP2Erik ten Hag and Marcus Rashford have United flying
United and Ronaldo parted ways during the World Cup, mutually agreeing to end his time back at Old Trafford as his second stint with the club came to a sorry end.
A glorious return for the 2021/22 season where he was the club’s top scorer was followed by Ronaldo falling out of favour under Erik ten Hag, later savaging the manager in THAT interview with Piers Morgan on Talk TV.
He then joined Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr for free, while United quickly got back to business.
Ronaldo’s final appearance in his second spell was a 3-1 defeat at Aston Villa in November and in the ten league games since, United have seven wins, two draws and a single defeat.
That run includes a standout 2-1 victory over rivals Manchester City, with United looking well on course for a return to the Champions League as Marcus Rashford and Casemiro continue to shine.
So good have the Red Devils been since Ronaldo’s final appearance, that the 23 points they’ve picked up is the most of any team.
They’ve also played more games than any team in that stretch, but even so, only Brentford and Arsenal would be able to close the five-point gap.
In all competitions with Ronaldo, United have a 60 per cent win percentage, as opposed to 62 per cent without him, while they’re now scoring two goals a game, rather than 1.2.
On the flip-side, Al Nassr’s win percentage has decreased by two per cent since Ronaldo joined, seeing them exit the Saudi Super Cup at the semi-final stage.
They sit three points clear at the top of the Saudi Pro League, with two games in hand.
Source: talksport
