Fletcher: Feels United are coping fine without Ronaldo
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Fletcher: We're coping without Ron
Darren Fletcher feels Manchester United are "more rigid" following the summer exit of Cristiano Ronaldo, with 'everyone knowing their roles'.
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The Portuguese superstar departed Old Trafford in the summer.
Many predicted United would struggle to replace his goals, but Fletcher feels the gap is starting to be filled.
"Any team in the world would miss Cristiano," said Fletcher. "He's a fantastic player and a great goalscorer.
"He adapted so much when he was here. He went from being a silky winger to being a goalscoring winger and the best player in the world.
"Hopefully we can become a more-rounded team and other players will raise their game to cover the gap left by his absence.
"We need more goals from midfield and more goals from all the players. That will make us a stronger team, because we won't be as reliant on one player.
"Teams adapt when players leave, much as Cristiano was brilliant for us, the team sacrificed a lot for him too.
"As a midfielder, I knew that I couldn't go bombing forward because Cristiano had gone forward. I knew that I had to cover on the right so that the left-back and left midfielder couldn't double up on our full-back.
"Maybe now we're a lot more rigid 4-4-2, with everyone knowing their role. There are perhaps more opportunities for midfielders to get in the box and get goals.
"Other players will hopefully step up. Wazza springs to mind straight away and he's already banging the goals in.
"You could see at the start of this season that he was really hungry. He was in the shadows of Cristiano and often sacrificed himself for the greater need of the team.
"Now it's his time to become a bit more selfish and score the winning goals, while other players can also do a job, like Berba and Antonio."
Fletcher himself is emerging as a lynchpin in United's midfield and he relishes competing against the league's best.
"I love challenging myself against all the best players," he said. "I watch how good they are, but when we play them I think to myself 'right, I'm going to see how good you really are, Fabregas, Lampard and Gerrard. I'm going to get amongst you and see how you like it.
"And when you've not got the ball, I'm still going to get about you and see how you like it'.
"I'm going to ask you do you fancy it? Do you like getting kicked? Do you like the fact that I'm going to be at you for the whole 90 minutes? As soon as you get the ball I'm going to be in your face.
"You're not going to like it one bit. And when we have the ball, I'm going to run you into the corner and you're going to have to follow me. Are you ready for that? Because that's what's going to happen.
"That's my attitude and I don't feel I've come off second best to anyone this season."
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Your Comments
joec8 (Sheffield Wednesday fan)
"Whilst I'm sure Prince CR7 enstills shame in most United fans with his complete lack of tact, I'm afraid United are many years away from winning their 19th "EPL" title, which I thought you might have picked up on, since you accused Liverpool of never winning the EPL, but then converted previous Division One titles into EPL titles in United's favour.
However, where was the praise for Fletcher last season? He was a rock all season, and he hardly got any praise. His absence at the CL final was almost brushed off completely. It's now that you're looking back and sayiong he would have made a difference. For me, Fletcher was more important than Ronaldo last season, who had one of his moodiest and inconsistent seasons to date, despite scoring a good number of goals."
prince_cr7 (Manchester United fan)
"hey ritesh you stupid....how foolish you LOSERFOOL fans are...since last year you have been worrying only about six points(beating united away and home)...why why why????????is that equal to the BARCLAYS ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE which you dont have in your history.without king ron we have already qualified for the last 16 and our position in ze league is good.....wat about LOSERFOOL??????? without torres u cant even qualify for the last 16 in the champions league....u gonna be relegated zis season......while united will win the 19th epl hhahahhaahhahaahahahahahhaaahahahahhahahaha!!!
"
zaheer1219 (Manchester United fan)
"Fletcher = the ironman of Man Utd"
Ragin Cajun (Manchester United fan)
"And to think that he is one of the players that Roy Keane had his infamous MUTV rant about and ultimately led to a rift that ended his United Career. I have to be honest, i was one of the Fletcher bashers and how he is making me eat my words now. I used to complain when i saw his name on the team sheet (just like Roy Keane) and now i get scared when he isn't in the team. Just goes to show that you can't write anyone off. Take a cue Nani and improve your game. Very well done Fletch, definate Man United player of the season so far......"
shinpad
"Give him the number 16."
thefrankdrebben (Manchester United fan)
"There is not a single player in the league that has gotten one up on him yet this season. He owned Fab and Lamps. Too bad he was injured for the liverpool game. Stevie G was out too though, so i guess it is inconsequential."
bobby_katoi (Manchester United fan)
"correction "Ritesh, Liverpool fan.,haha,if i'm not mistaken,last season was the first time your loser team beat us in the league UNDER BENITASS.""
bobby_katoi (Manchester United fan)
"Ritesh, Liverpool fan.,haha,if i'm not mistaken,last season was the first time your loser team beat us in the league.so it's like 3 win out of 11 games and united win 7 and draw 1.and ronaldo had been at united every season benitass in charge so i pretty sure he involved in all those win.so who's the loser now,biatch??
and enjoy your europa journey,loserrr..."
keanos_love_child (Manchester United fan)
"Hmmm, did he really say that??? Sounds like there may have been some journalistic expression added to that although he has certainly been more vocal this season. I don't like that though. I prefer the quite players who just play the game and let their football do the talking. That way if Lampard or whoever gets one up on you, he can't rub it in your face.
I have to say I am eating my words on this player but like so many others. I can't believe how strong he has become in the space of a season or so. Same has to be said for John O'Shea. Fair enough he'll never be the best right back in the world but he is so consistent now, I don't have fear like before when I see these guys names on the team sheet."
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