Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Cristiano Ronaldo will not play every game for Manchester United and admitted the Portugal star could be left out completely for the club's next match.
Ronaldo got off to a flying start with a brace against Newcastle on his second debut for the club, showing that it could be difficult for Solskjaer to leave him out of his lineup.
But, the Norwegian insisted there will be games Ronaldo will skip as he looks to keep the 36-year-old fresh.
What was said?
Solskjaer was asked if it is impossible to leave Ronaldo out after his double at Old Trafford on Saturday.
“The thing with Cristiano is that he looks after himself so much so I know he will recover quickly and he has had a pre-season," the United head coach said.
"Of course, it’s important that we get everyone up and running and to get him up and running and to give him 90 minutes.
“Of course there is a game on Tuesday (against Young Boys). We will see what we do. But no, it’s not impossible to leave him out. He is 36, Mason [Greenwood] is 19, so it’s the same, I have to manage his minutes, and I have to manage a 36-year-old’s minutes as well.”
Ronaldo makes quick impact
The Portugal international has been back at the club’s Carrington training base for just a week but his arrival has already forced some United players to raise their standards.
“The more quality you add to the group and the more healthy competition and leaders who they look up to,” Solskjaer said.
“I think seeing Raphael [Varane] and Cristiano coming it’s raised everyone’s eyebrows because they are winners, they have won everything there is to win and they put demands on themselves which the young boys, the rest of the team, they look at them and think: 'That is how you stay at the top.'
"So it is only going to be good for everyone and there is competition for places which is great for me to see.”
What’s next for Ronaldo and Man Utd?
The squad fly to Switzerland on Monday ahead of their first Champions League fixture of the season. They play Young Boys on Tuesday night in their opening game of Group F.
If Ronaldo plays he would equal the all-time Champions League appearance record level set by Iker Casillas of 177 matches.