Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has
said that he came to Manchester United to compete for and win titles, urging
his teammates to change their mindset to reverse the club’s fortunes this
season.
United are currently seventh in the Premier League,
22 points behind rivals Manchester City, despite the appointment of interim
manager Ralf Rangnick bringing some stability to the Old Trafford side.
Ronaldo insisted finishing outside the top
three places in the Premier League should be unacceptable, adding the dressing
room is “capable of changing things now”.
“Manchester United should win the league or
be second or third. I don’t see any other position for Manchester United,” the
five-time Balon d’Or winner told Sky Sports.
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“In my heart, I don’t accept that our
mentality be less than being in the top three in the Premier League, in my
opinion. I think to build up good things sometimes you have to destroy a few
things. New year, new life, I hope that Manchester can be at the level people
want, especially the fans. We are capable of changing things now,” he added.
“We can do it better, all of us. I don’t
want to be here in the club to fight to be in sixth or seventh place. I am here
to try to win, to compete. I believe if we change our mind we can achieve big
things.”
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United lost to Wolverhampton in their last
league match on January 3. They will next be in action against Aston Villa on
Saturday.
Rangnick
was appointed until the end of the season after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked
following a string of damaging losses, including 5-0 and 2-0 defeats at home to
Liverpool and City, as well as a 4-1 loss at relegation-threatened Watford.
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Since
taking over, the German has won four of his seven games in all competitions,
but has been criticised for his style of play while reports have recently
surfaced that claim there is distress within the dressing room.
However,
Ronaldo has backed Rangnick to turn thigs around and urged the fanbase to be
patient with the new boss.
“He changed many things but he needs time
to put his ideas through the players and on the pitch,” Ronaldo said about
Rangnick.
“It takes time but I believe that he
is going to do a good job. We know we don’t play the best football, as we
should do, but we have many games to improve. Since he arrived I think in some
points we are better, but he needs time.”