‘Why give it to Ronaldo?’
Paul Ince has suggested that Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick was wrong to make Cristiano Ronaldo captain for the game against Wolves.
The Red Devils welcomed Wolves to Old Trafford for a Premier League clash on Monday night, with Rangnick forced to make a number of changes due to injuries in his squad.
Paul Ince: Ronaldo the wrong choice to be Man United captain.
With skipper Harry Maguire out injured, and vice-captain Bruno Fernandes once again dropped to the bench, the German opted to name Ronaldo captain for the fixture.
Rangnick stated that he chose between ‘either Ronaldo or David de Gea’, but he went with the Portugal captain as he wanted the skipper to be an outfield player.
However, former United midfielder Ince believes that the interim boss should’ve named Scott McTominay captain.
Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “Maguire is the captain, but sometimes when your performances aren’t great, as Maguire’s haven’t been great, sometimes that armband can weigh a bit more on you.
“But Cristiano [Ronaldo] has got it, he could’ve given it to David de Gea, he could’ve given it to [Edinson] Cavani, but I think it’s the right choice.”
Ince then talked himself out of that opinion, eventually settling on McTominay as his personal choice for the armband.
🗣 "I would give it to McTominay. Why give it to Ronaldo? Everyone moaning about Ronaldo walking off the pitch every time United get beat."
Jamie Redknapp and Paul Ince discuss the Manchester United captaincy being given to Cristiano Ronaldo pic.twitter.com/Ijg7UVAMDh
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) January 3, 2022
Paul Ince: Scott McTominay should have been Man United captain against Wolves.
He added: “Looking at it really, if I was Ralf Rangnick, I would give it to Scott McTominay because I think a captain should be based on his performances and what he’s done on the pitch.
“He’s 25-years-old, it would be a nice learning curve for him.
“Why give it to Ronaldo? Everyone is moaning about him walking off the pitch every time they get beat, or not clapping the fans, it’s also about setting an example.
“I think the way that McTominay is playing, give it to him and let him have a go.”
The Scottish midfielder has made 20 appearances for United this season, scoring one goal. Only two outfield players have started more games than him.
Maguire was given the armband just six months after joining Man United from Leicester City for £80 million in 2020. He has been criticised for his performances so far this campaign, with some questioning his position as club captain.
Rio Ferdinand recently claimed that United made a mistake appointing Harry Maguire as captain and claimed it was “too early” to do so, with some reports even suggesting that his teammates have questioned why he wears the armband.
