'Ronaldo cannot defend' - Ex-African POTY slams Man Utd superstar, Solskjaer after defeat to City

Former African Footballer of the Year Victor Ikpeba has questioned the tactics used by Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during the 2-0 defeat to Manchester City on Saturday.

Since the return of Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo to Old Trafford, the Red Devils have won only three league games from a possible eight.

Ikpeba highlighted that United lost the derby because their attackers did not play a high-pressing game whereas the City players defended as a unit.

The former Monaco winger acknowledged that Ronaldo has excellent goal-scoring pedigree but his defensive contribution to the Manchester United team is close to zero.

Speaking on SuperSport's Monday Night Football, Ikpeba said : "The great managers come from the ability to get the best from your players, but if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is not getting the best from these players, I feel some of the Manchester United players up front are very lazy.

"I want us to look at the game against Man City, how Jesus, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva pressed. They did not allow the defenders to start the build up from the defence, why can't Man Utd players do the same?

"We saw what Crystal Palace did to Manchester City, they defended very well.

"I always say Ronaldo is minus one for Manchester United. He can score beautiful goals, he cannot defend.

"When you look at the opposition, they defend as a team, they attack as a team, they know when to play the pressing game."

With the future of Solskjaer hanging in the balance, Ikpeba has urged the Norwegian football tactician to borrow a page from Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola by dropping his under-performing players, including Ronaldo.

He added : "Solskjaer has to be ruthless, he has too see what Klopp and Guardiola are doing.

"We've seen in the past with Liverpool that Klopp is not shy to put Salah on the bench or Mane. I want to say put Ronaldo on the bench when he is not performing well. "

Ikpeba was in the Monaco side that held Manchester United to two draws in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals in 1998.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : manutd.com