Cristiano Ronaldo is seemingly nonplussed about being happy to be at Manchester United and has even gone to the extent of targeting trophies under new gaffer Erik Ten Hag next season. The Portuguese dynamo’s future had been doubtful after a shambolic campaign for the club saw them finish sixth in the Premier League and missing out on Champions League football next season.
The 37-year-old Portugal striker was the star performer with 24 goals and insists he is “still very happy” at Old Trafford and is hankering for success under the new boss.
“I knew he did a fantastic job for Ajax and that he’s an experienced coach but we need to give him time and things need to change they way he wants,” he said in a video posted on the club’s Twitter account. “I hope we have success of course because if you have success, all of Manchester are going to have success as well. So I wish him the best.
“We are happy and excited – not only the players, but the supporters as well. I wish him the best and let’s believe that next year we’re going to win trophies. For me, the most important thing is to try to win the games and try to win some championship or some cup but I believe that Manchester will be where they belong. As I say before, sometimes it takes time but I still believe.”
Although it wasn’t at all the glorious Old Trafford homecoming that Ronaldo had hoped for when he returned last summer, even despite his own performances lugging United into the top six, his relationship with the fans never waned.
He added: “I was happy of course, to be back in a club that really raised my career so it was unbelievable, the feeling when I came back again. It was nice to feel the supporters, the happiness of them was great. I was and still am very happy to be here.
“And what I have to say to the fans is they are amazing even when you lost games they always support us, they’re always are with us. The supporters are always in my heart and it’s the people that we all should respect because they are always on our side.”