Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, a former Manchester United coach, blamed Cristiano Ronaldo and other retired players for his dismissal from the team.
He told The Athletic that he acknowledged it was “very difficult to turn down” the opportunity to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to Manchester United, but that it was the wrong choice since “egos” inside his team cost him his job at the club.
In August 2021, the Portuguese sensation returned to Old Trafford for a second stint, but Ole Gunnar was ousted as manager just three months later.
Despite not having given the go-ahead for Ronaldo’s comeback, the Norwegian coach had to include him into his squad.
Read Also: Ronaldo Was Rejected Due To His ‘Standards’ – Ex-United Coach
Since being fired nearly two years ago, Solskjaer has avoided taking on any new management positions. He blamed his dismissal on egotistical factors for a string of poor performances.
“It was a decision that was very difficult to turn down and I felt we had to take it, but it turned out wrong,” Solskjaer told The Athletic of Ronaldo’s return.
“It felt so right when he signed and the fans felt that at that Newcastle game, when Old Trafford was rocking [Ronaldo scored twice in a 4-1 win].
“He was still one of the best goalscorers in the world, he was looking strong.
“When you have a group you need everyone to pull in the same direction. When things didn’t go right, you could see certain players and egos came out.”
‘“The club he found in November 2021 was different from September 2021,” Solskjaer added.
“I told him when I gave my opinion on every player. Things had soured, the collective had been lost and that’s not Man United, where teams are built on the collective.
“Some players felt they should’ve played more and weren’t constructive to the environment. That’s a huge sin for me.”
