Paul Scholes insists ‘we can’t call Cristiano Ronaldo a Europa League player’
Paul Scholes believes Cristiano Ronaldo is not a Europa League player, even though he is currently playing in the Europa League.
Ronaldo is playing in Europe's second-tier competition for the first time since 2002 after Manchester United failed to qualify for the Champions League last season. The 37-year-old started in last week's 1-0 reverse to Real Sociedad at Old Trafford and featured from the off again on Thursday night as Erik ten Hag's side defeated Sheriff Tiraspol 2-0.
It was a particularly good night for Ronaldo, who marked only his third start of the season with his first goal of the campaign, slotting home a penalty to double United's lead after Jadon Sancho's opener.
READ MORE: Win 2 tickets to watch England vs Germany in Nations League action at Wembley Stadium
Yet despite Ronaldo's presence in the Europa League, former team-mate-turned-BT Sport pundit Scholes believes the Portuguese star is still a Champions League standard player.
Speaking on BT Sport before United's 2-0 victory over Sheriff, Scholes said: "We can’t call him a Europa League player, we just can’t. He’s a Champions League player of course he is, he’s at a club where he’s going to have to settle for that now [Europa League].
Is Ronaldo still a Champions League level player? Let us know in the comments section below.
"It gives him a chance on those Thursday nights if he’s playing to score goals and get himself in the team for the Premier League games which is where I’m sure he’ll want to be playing and I’m sure he’ll work his way in there."
Although Scholes may believe that Ronaldo will work his way into contention in the Premier League as time goes on, new United manager Erik ten Hag is content to leave him out of the team for the time being.
The Portuguese forward hasn't started a top-flight match for the Red Devils since the 4-0 defeat to Brentford in August. He has come off the bench in each of United's last four matches in the Premier League.
Nevertheless, Ten Hag spoke highly of Ronaldo's contribution to the team after Thursday night's win in Moldova. He said: "He's [Ronaldo] really close, when he gets more fitness he will score more. He's totally committed to this project, totally involved, he also has connections that are coming around him [on the pitch] and he is constructing connections so I'm happy with that."
READ NEXT:
Arsenal won 'best toilets in football' award – and even got an interactive trophy
Gobsmacked West Ham fans only just realising who Borussia Dortmund manager is
Sunderland 'morph into peak Barcelona' with stunning team goal wowing fans
Source: Read Full Article