The 2021/22 season was one to forget for Manchester United Football Club.It was arguably the team's worst campaign in the Premier League era, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick both failing dismally as manager.The players were hopeless out on the pitch for the most part and it was evident for all to see that the dressing room behind-the-scenes was something of a disaster.Erik ten Hag has an enormous task on his hands to reverse the negativity that's engulfed United over the past 12 months.The only positive for the Red Devils from 2021/22 was the form of Cristiano Ronaldo, who was named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year.Ronaldo scored 18 goals in league action and 24 across all competitions, a superb return given the struggles of those around him.But 2021/22 certainly wasn't the return to Old Trafford the five-time Ballon d'Or winner expected when he joined re-joined from Juventus.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 11: Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United celebrates in front of the Stretford End after scoring his second goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Newcastle United at Old Trafford on September 11, 2021 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)It all started so promisingly for Ronaldo at United as well...The Portugal international made his second debut in September of last year against Newcastle United and he bagged a brace in an impressive 4-1 victory.Things couldn't have looked brighter for the Red Devils that day and Ronaldo's memorable return was made even better by some linguistic genius from Peter Drury.The much-loved commentator narrated the 37-year-old's homecoming and it's still just as spine-tingling to listen to now as it was at the time.
Video: Drury's commentary for Ronaldo's Man Utd homecoming
Drury said as Ronaldo walked out with his teammates: "It is Ronaldo. Manchester United. The Theatre is living its dream. Madeira, Manchester, Madrid, Turin & Manchester again. Reeved in Red. Restored to this great gallery of the game. A walking work of art. Vintage, beyond valuation, beyond forgery or imitation, eighteen years since that trembling teenager of touch and tease, first tiptoed on to the historic stage, now in his immaculate maturity, now CR7 reunited."
The man is a poet and arguably the greatest commentator of them all.
With Ronaldo looking as if he'll remain at United this summer, we will hopefully be treated to more beautiful narration from Drury on his exploits in 2022/23.