Paul Scholes Exposes the Pivotal Man Utd Match That Transformed Cristiano Ronaldo Forever
According to Paul Scholes, Cristiano Ronaldo had to absorb a crucial lesson during a Champions League encounter with Milan before he could establish himself among Manchester United's legendary players.
During the 2004–05 campaign, the Red Devils were matched against the Rossoneri in the Champions League's round of 16. United struggled in both encounters, losing consecutive 1–0 matches and being eliminated by the team that would eventually reach the final.
Ronaldo featured in both games, but like Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs, he failed to make a significant impact against Milan. Scholes views this matchup as a pivotal moment in the Portuguese star's development.
"The crucial moment for Cristiano came in the Champions League, facing [Paolo] Maldini. The greatest ever," Scholes revealed on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast.
"He was still quite young. His debut season, I can't recall exactly, but it took him some time to adapt. He went up against Maldini and [Gennaro] Gattuso.
"[Gattuso] kept drifting over to that flank and dispossessing him. It wasn't a memorable display, but I believe from that moment, he realized that eventually, he would need to distribute the ball," Scholes explained.
In the return leg at San Siro, United managed only a single shot on target throughout the entire 90 minutes. Despite fielding an attacking lineup that included Ruud van Nistelrooy, Giggs, Rooney and Ronaldo, the Red Devils were neutralized by Milan's disciplined defensive unit.
Scholes: Ronaldo Needed to Show 'How Good He Was'
The result might have been different if Ronaldo had followed Scholes' guidance during that Champions League clash. The future five-time Ballon d'Or recipient, however, was more concerned with keeping possession rather than seeking out his teammates.
"[Ronaldo] believed, 'I'm just going to collect the ball, beat everyone,' but it's Maldini, and Gattuso keeps covering," Scholes added.
"Simply pass it, but he wouldn't. He wanted to attempt something spectacular. He felt compelled to demonstrate his abilities to everyone."
Ronaldo ultimately heeded this guidance, though it required patience. The club icon accumulated 72 assists during his two periods wearing the red jersey, contributing to United's three Premier League titles and one Champions League triumph.
Ronaldo later developed an almost telepathic understanding with Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale at Real Madrid, providing 131 assists throughout his tenure with the Spanish powerhouse.