Cristiano Ronaldo: Benni McCarthy on working with United legend | OneFootball

Former Manchester United striker coach Benni McCarthy worked at close quarters with Cristiano Ronaldo during the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s second spell at Old Trafford. The Portuguese superstar completed a fairytale return to the Theatre of Dreams in the summer of 2021 from Juventus.

Ronaldo rose to prominence under Sir Alex Ferguson after initially joining from Sporting in the summer of 2003, and reached the pinnacle of success with the Premier League giants.

After adding more feathers to his cap with Real Madrid and Juventus, the Portuguese returned to his old hunting ground and enjoyed an impressive debut campaign, scoring 24 times in 39 games.

Cristiano Ronaldo Club Career Stats

Source: Transfermarkt.

A year later, Erik ten Hag took charge of the Red Devils and McCarthy joined the Dutchman’s staff on a two-year contract. For the next six months, the former Blackburn Rovers striker worked with Ronaldo, and he has now provided an insight into his interactions with the Portuguese superstar.

Wanted to make his presence felt at Old Trafford

Speaking to Creamer Media TV, as cited by A Bola, McCarthy insisted that he went to Old Trafford confident of his ability to make an impact. He said: “I went to Manchester United knowing that it might be beyond my capabilities, because I had coached Cape Town City and AmaZulu, and there they were asking me to coach top players at Manchester United.”

“Was I just going to learn? That wasn’t my mindset or my state of mind… ‘They asked me to come and do a job. I’ll show them.’”

“Yes, they may know a lot of things, but they don’t know everything, so I could teach them some things they didn’t know. That was my mindset when I went in there. I’m not there to learn, I’m also there to make a change and make a difference. To improve the situation and learn as much as I can from everything I’m giving there, and then also take something away from everyone else.”

“Working with Rashford, Casemiro, Martínez, Bruno Fernandes, Ronaldo… I went in there knowing that I could teach them something more that they didn’t know.”

Unfazed by Cristiano Ronaldo

McCarthy went on to state that he believed there were things that even Ronaldo could learn from him, adding: “Even Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the best players in the world, could still teach him something he didn’t know, because I’ve been in this business longer than him and I’ve done it before him, so there was something he could learn from me.”

“So why should I feel wow? Admire him because he’s Ronaldo and be here to learn. No, I’m here to give back, and that was my mindset, and that’s why I feel I was successful [at Manchester United].”

Ronaldo had a fallout with Ten Hag within the first few months of the Dutch manager’s arrival, and left Old Trafford under unceremonious circumstances at the end of 2022. McCarthy, meanwhile, left United at the end of his contract in the summer of 2024 and is currently in charge of the Kenya national team.

Final Thoughts

Cristiano Ronaldo was recently linked with another spectacular return to the Theatre of Dreams, but a report relayed by The Peoples Person states that United are not looking for a reunion.

While the 41 year old’s second spell at Old Trafford failed to live up to expectations, his legacy at the club remains untarnished. If the current crop of attackers can match the Portuguese’s exploits at the Theatre of Dreams, it will not be long before United reclaim their glory days.

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