Cristiano Ronaldo And Edinson Cavani Body Language Is A Big Problem For Man Utd

Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick managed to upset both of his iconic center-forwards on a miserable night at Turf Moor.

First he dropped Cristiano Ronaldo from the starting XI to face Burnley, after the former Real Madrid man had failed to score in his last four matches.

With Ronaldo banished to the bench, Edinson Cavani led the line for United but was hauled off after 68 minutes to make way for Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo looked glum as he watched the first half of Burnley vs Man Utd from the bench

IMAGO/Andrew Yates

Cavani looked disheartened as he left the field with a defeated shake of his bowed head.

But Rangnick's decision to withdraw him was justified. Cavani has been ineffectual.

Unfortunately for Ronaldo, who had spent the night to this point watching from the sideline with a face like thunder, he was ineffectual too as the game ended 1-1.

Between them, Cavani (22) and Ronaldo (9) touched the ball just 31 times.

In comparison, Burnley no.9 Wout Weghorst had 50 touches, including one to assist Jay Rodriguez for Burnley's equalizer at the start of the second half.

That Burnley goal hit United hard. Because they had been much the better side for the first 45 minutes and could have been more than 1-0 up had it not been for close but correct calls to disallow two goals.

But teams are measured on how they react when things go against them and United's reactions to testing times this season have been limp at best.

Edinson Cavani left the field with his head bowed when he made way for Ronaldo

IMAGO/Andrew Yates

The great United teams of Premier League seasons past were built on unshakable self-belief but this side reverts to self-pity at the first sign of trouble.

When the going gets tough, that is when you need your big players to stand up and inspire those around them to be better.

There is nothing inspiring about seeing Ronaldo, 37, and Cavani, 34, two of football's most experienced strikers at the elite level, looking constantly glum and throwing mini-tantrums.

Of course, you cannot expect serial winners like them to enjoy being involved in team producing such mediocre results and performances.

But it is up to them as senior and respected figures to lead by example. 

That starts with their body language, which desperately needs to improve.

Ronaldo's body language was far from positive and that will affect his United teammates

IMAGO/Malcolm Bryce