Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been accused of asking Cristiano Ronaldo what to do after Raphael Varane came off injured in their 2-2 draw against Atalanta on Tuesday.Varane was withdrawn in the first half after suffering a hamstring injury that is expected to keep him out for around a month, United have confirmed.Solskjaer later admitted that the Frenchman's injury is a blow."Rafa has been such a calming influence when he’s on the pitch. We lost him but that’s football," the Norwegian said, per United's website.
Ole accused of asking Ronaldo what to do
Solskaer initally started the game with a back three that worked so well in United's 3-0 win against Tottenham last week.
But when Varane went down, he brought on Mason Greenwood and went to four at the back.
Footage showed Solskjaer in discussions with his assistant Michael Carrick and Ronaldo about what to do after the injury.
And speaking on talkSPORT on Wednesday morning, former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan said he saw Solskjaer ask Ronaldo what to do.
"I'm pretty sure when Varane came off I saw him asking Ronaldo what they should be doing next," Jordan said.
"I'm not the only one that's seen it. I think I saw - and so does someone else I know who's a footballer - thinks they saw, when Varane came off, Ronaldo being consulted by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer about what they should do next, should they go to a four."
Footage reveals what really happened
If it were true, Solskjaer's critics would have a field day. That said, sounding out advice from one of the game's greatest players isn't such a bad move.
And a video of the moment shows that Jordan got it completely wrong anyway.
Before speaking to Ronaldo, the United boss speaks to Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire - possibly to tell them he's considering a back four - before turning to Carrick and asking him what he thinks, not Ronaldo.
Jordan has tweeted about the footage
The footage makes it very obvious.
However, Jordan doubled down on his claims that Solskjaer turned to Ronaldo for help.
He shared a video of the incident on Twitter, writing: "Hmmm ... is this strong leadership? Elite management? Or lunatics running the asylum?"
Better watch it back again, Simon. Closely, this time.
