Search icon

Football

19th Sep 2021

Solskjaer hits back at Rio Ferdinand’s Ronaldo comment

Daniel Brown

“Sometimes he comments on things he doesn’t really know”

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hit back at Rio Ferdinand after the former Manchester United defender claimed Cristiano Ronaldo should have been ordered to ‘sit down’ against Young Boys.

Following United’s midweek loss to the Swiss side, Ferdinand questioned why Ronaldo was allowed to enter Solskjaer’s technical area to shout, what appeared to be, instructions to his teammates.

The former Red Devils man then went on to state that had he been the manager in that situation, he would’ve told the Portuguese captain to go and sit back down on the bench.

However, Solskjaer has since responded to the 42-year-old’s claims, insisting that Ferdinand ‘sometimes comments on things he doesn’t really know.’

“Rio, again you know, sometimes he comments on things he doesn’t really know,” said the Norwegian.

“It’s not like he was coaching players. No.

“Both Bruno and Cristiano, as competitive as they are, suddenly I had them on my shoulder.

“They were there for a brief spell and shouted at the referee. That was the aggravation of getting a few bad decisions against us.

“But then Cristiano sat down and Bruno sat down.”

The United boss also added that he had ‘no problem’ with Ronaldo or Fernandes – who had also entered the technical area to vent his frustration – showing passion from the touchline.

“We know there is only one man allowed in the technical area and that’s either me or Carras [Michael Carrick], Mick [Phelan] or Kieran [McKenna],” said the 48-year-old.

“We thought it should have been a yellow card for Christopher Martin when he brought down Nemanja Matic.

“So I don’t have any problem with them showing some passion and then sitting back down.”

Related links: 

Rio Ferdinand claims that Cristiano Ronaldo should have been told to ‘sit down’ against Young Boys

Paul Scholes says Man Utd can win the Champions League because of crucial difference

Jamie Carragher questions whether Cristiano Ronaldo will make Man Utd a better team