Former England defender Joleon Lescott has offered his opinion on whether Cristiano Ronaldo could help Manchester United win the Champions League this season.
What did Lescott say about Ronaldo?
Ronaldo's return to Old Trafford was officially confirmed on deadline day, and he made his second debut for the club on Saturday against Newcastle, bagging a brace to mark the occasion.
Lescott feels that United's chances in the Champions League have been improved by Ronaldo re-joining, but he still feels that two of the club's main rivals in the Premier League hold a slight advantage over the Red Devils.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said: “If you’re talking Champions League, I think United are closer to being contenders to Man City, but domestically I’m not sure they are the strongest competitors. I still believe Chelsea, even in the Champions League, are stronger than United.
“We’ve seen them win the Champions League last year, we know how good Thomas Tuchel is tactically, even against Man City, and I think the acquisition of Lukaku is huge."
What is Ronaldo's Champions League record?
The 36-year-old's numbers in the Champions League are simply staggering.
In terms of individual achievements, Ronaldo is the highest goalscorer in Champions League history, having netted 134 goals. He also holds the record for the most goals scored in the knockout stages of the competition (67), showing that he is the man for the big occasion.
His mesmeric performances over the years have helped him win five Champions League trophies in his career to date, four with Real Madrid and one during his first spell at United.
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Can he win the Champions League with United this season?
It will be a tall order for United to win the Champions League this year, especially given how fiercely contested the competition promises to be. Lescott mentioned City and Chelsea as legitimate contenders, and PSG must also be considered to be in the mix after signing Lionel Messi last month.
Furthermore, it ought to be remembered that United did not even make it out of their group last season, as they finished below PSG and RB Leipzig, meaning that they dropped into the Europa League.
To go from that position to winning the tournament the following year might be a step too far, but given Ronaldo's extraordinary record in Europe, United should not be completely dismissed.
If Ronaldo can conjure up some more moments of magic, United could emerge as a genuine threat in Europe over the coming months.
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