As Cristiano Ronaldo rose in the air, you just knew what the outcome was going to be. Meeting Alex Telles’ corner with a powerful header, the ball arrowed into the top corner, leaving Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris rooted to the spot. 3-2. Hat-trick. Three points for Manchester United.
Ronaldo’s return to Old Trafford has been a tale of twists and turns. He made an instant impact early in the season, to the point where fans and pundits were hailing the decision to bring him back to the club. However, there have been times in the months since where it seems as though Ronaldo’s presence in the team has affected United’s ability to press from the front — a sense that this shining emblem of the club’s past was now holding them back.
But then he produces moments of magic like he did against Tottenham. His first goal seemed to transport everyone back to 2008, when Ronaldo was in his pomp for Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson. Receiving Fred’s flick some 25 yards from goal, Ronaldo unleashed a powerful, dipping effort beyond Lloris and into the top corner. Later in the half, he put them 2-1 ahead after Harry Kane’s equaliser, getting on the end of Jadon Sancho’s cross to tap home from close range. Then came the late header which sealed the win once and for all.
This is the Ronaldo conundrum that is dumbfounding fans, pundits and writers alike at the moment. On one hand, the Portuguese international is one of the greatest footballers ever to walk the earth. Indeed, his first goal against Spurs saw him become the FIFA-recognised leading all-time scorer in football history. Surely that should be enough to give him value to Manchester United beyond his mere commercial appeal.
But if United are to truly make strides in the coming years, you feel that having a player like Ronaldo among the ranks just won’t cut the mustard. Ralf Rangnick has been tasked with taking the reins after the inconsistency of Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s tenure, to pave the way for a new permanent manager to join in the summer and lead the club forward, hopefully helping their chances in the odds for football betting.
United’s aim will be to replicate the success that Manchester City and Liverpool have enjoyed in recent years, but when you look at those teams there are no outliers in the squad in the same way that Ronaldo is at United. Yes, they have recognisable star players in the form of Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah, but those two are a key part of their team’s respective systems — a vital cog in the winning machine.
Ronaldo, by contrast, feels like a luxury — the shiny sports car that looks good and feels good but isn’t so useful for the school run. His presence up front for Manchester United has undoubtedly been a hindrance to players like Sancho and Marcus Rashford, who are forced to operate in the shadow of this footballing behemoth.
Even at the age of 37, Ronaldo undoubtedly still has the quality to play for one of the world’s biggest clubs, but you have to question whether his presence at Manchester United is what the club needs to progress and start the next chapter.
If you asked the typical punter which event they most looking forward to in the racing calendar, you’d most likely be told either the Grand National or the Cheltenham Festival. Granted as a one off race the National has massive worldwide appeal (and I’m sure we all get involved in the office sweepstakes etc), but as a four day feast of top class racing the Cheltenham Festival has much going for it too.
Taking place this year from the 15th to 18th March The Cheltenham Festival is a golden opportunity to watch the best owners, trainers, jockeys and horses come together in a bid to put their stamp on an event that’s steeped in history. This year there is a really upbeat feel to the Festival along with a bustling crowd, due to the lifting of all Covid restrictions across the country. It’s a chance to soap in a top sporting event, and to have a punt, whether on course or watching the coverage from home. The racing public simply can’t wait for the ‘Cheltenham Roar’ to sound and the top class racing to begin.
To gear up to the Cheltenham Festival Betway decided to get together two well known figures in the world of trainers (one from the Premier League and another racing) to discuss the ins and outs of the role, how to maintain a successful career and how to get the best out of those you’re training (whether horse or human!). Of course there are plenty of differences between the two sports but without a doubt, on the mental side (determination etc) as well as the processes in place and expectations within the sport there are plenty of commonalities too. Once you’ve watched this entertaining exchange why not check out the betting odds for some of your favourite Cheltenham selections and have something to cheer on, during this unmissable Festival! Good luck!
Read more about Masters Champion, Tiger Woods here
In April, 2019, Tiger Woods completed what was hailed as the ‘comeback of the decade’ when winning the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Club for the fifth time and his fifteenth major championship in all. Woods, 43, had not won the Masters since 2005 or a major championship, of any description, since the US Open in 2008.
Indeed, in recent years, Woods has been plagued by back problems, which eventually resulted in spinal fusion surgery in April, 2017. However, two years later his recovery appeared complete, as he came from two strokes behind 54-hole leader Francesco Molinari – the first time he had done so in a major championship – to win by a single shot. Molinari found Rae’s Creek with his tee shot on the famous twelfth hole and compounded the error by finding water again on the fifteenth; he eventually dropped away to finish joint-fifth after a final round of 74.
Woods, meanwhile, was on the way to a two-under-par 70, which took his 72-hole total to -13 and a one-shot victory over compatriots Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele and Brooks Koepka. In fact, Woods had the luxury of being able to make a bogey on the final hole, which he did, after apparently fluffing his second shot, but a safe two-putt from 14 or 15 feet sealed a momentous victory. His first major championship win for 11 years leaves Woods just one behing Jack Nicklaus’ record of six Masters Tournament victories.