MANCHESTER:
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored almost 800 goals for the club and the national team and has won numerous trophies in a 19-year career, but the Portuguese forward admitted having butterflies in his stomach before his second debut in the United manchester on Saturday.
Ronaldo, who scored 118 goals for United during his first season, scored two goals on his return in a 4-1 win over Newcastle united at Old Trafford that sent the Manchester club to the top of the Premier league positions.
“I was really nervous, maybe I didn’t show it,” Ronaldo told Sky Sports as United fans serenaded him. “The reception was incredible.
“Last night I thought I wanted to show that I am still capable of helping the team. When I started the game, I was very nervous when they called my name, but this crowd is incredible.”
Ronaldo, who won eight major trophies with United, has rejoined the club that has failed to win the league title since the last time he lifted it in 2013 with his former manager Alex Ferguson.
The Portuguese forward said Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has the tools to win the League and the Champions League, but added that the team needed maturity.
“We have a fantastic team, a young team and a fantastic coach,” said Ronaldo. “But … we have to build trust. The team needs to be mature if it wants to win the Premier League and the Champions League.
“I think we are on the right track, we have to win games, build confidence, strengthen the team and I am here to help the team.”
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