Ronaldo is ‘part of the problem’ and hasn’t improved Man Utd in damning blast

Manchester United were humiliated by Middlesbrough in the fourth round of the FA Cup as the Championship side knocked out the Red Devils on penalties.

United took the lead through Jadon Sancho after Cristiano Ronaldo shockingly dragged his penalty wide, but the visitors equalised to take the game the distance despite the controversial circumstances that led up to the goal.

The FA Cup was United's last realistic chance of achieving silverware this season, unless they produce the ultimate shock in the Champions League, raising questions over Ronaldo's impact at the club.

And the five-time Ballon d'Or winner has been on the receiving end of a savage blast by former striker Carlton Cole.

United were blasted for their poor performance, and Cole has singled out Ronaldo for being 'part of the problem' at the club.

Cole said on talkSport: "I got slated for saying this about Cristiano Ronaldo before, that he’s come in and taken all the attention away from what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was doing.

"I’m not saying that he’s not going to score you goals, he scores a bag of goals, but was he the right thing for Man United? Was he the right thing for that team?

"The evidence shows, and not even just from tonight, but going on everything that has happened since he came in, Man United still have not gone to the next level.

"I’m not saying it’s just Ronaldo’s fault – a lot of things have happened – but he is part of the problem too.

"Obviously you’re going to look for Ronaldo but I don’t know whether he can lead by example anymore. He hasn’t got that tenacity.

"Where he used to be buzzing around the pitch, now he’s waiting, he’s goal-hanging right now because he’s trying to save his energy and score goals, that’s what his job is and that’s what we expect from him.

"The younger Ronaldo would have obviously been bombing around the pitch and charging about, but now he’s got to depend on his teammates.

"He’s a leader in his own way, but he can only say so much to the players. They need someone who is going to show action as well. I was looking on that pitch for a leader, and I didn’t see one."

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