(Football news) Ever since Cristiano Ronaldo's return to Old Trafford was announced, there has been a different energy at Manchester United. Although it has been far from a smooth ride so far Ronaldo's presence alone gives fans hope. The question on everyone's mind was now that Ronaldo is here, who takes the penalties?
It looked as if the question was answered when Bruno Fernandes stepped up to take a last minute penalty against Aston Villa when United were 1-0 despite Ronaldo being on the field. The doubt would've gone away had Bruno scored but he blasted his kick over the post, so the question still remains very relevant.
Bruno Fernandes had been the primary spot kick taker ever since his arrival at Manchester United. The midfielder rarely missed a penalty and had an impressive conversion rate of 91.3%. Cristiano Ronaldo on the other hand has been a penalty taker for 16 years. The striker has taken and converted pressure penalties in the Champions League, World Cup and the Euros. His conversion rate is 81.4% which is inferior to that of Bruno Fernandes.
Ronaldo and Fernandes have played for Portugal many times before and not once has Bruno taken the kick when Ronaldo is on the field mainly because Ronaldo is the captain. Talking about the penalties, Bruno said that he would be happy to take them but the decision lies with the captain Harry Maguire, coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and a senior player in Cristiano Ronaldo. Solskjaer also confirmed after the Villa game that the decision about the penalty taker isn't a spontaneous one and the job is delegated before the game.
If we look at the conversion rate Fernandes comfortably edges it, but Ronaldo has taken more pressure penalties and for a longer amount of time. Ronaldo is Portugal's captain which is why he may be in-charge of the decision in the Portuguese camp. Bruno Fernandes is the vice-captain of Manchester United which is why he may have taken the penalty against Aston Villa.
The miss against Aston Villa and the fact that Ronaldo scored 3 penalties in Portugal's recent World Cup qualifier against Luxembourg might tempt Solskjaer to trust Ronaldo with the duties like 99% of managers would do. Another thing Solskjaer could do is ask Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes to take turns, which is what Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos did for Real Madrid
