Cristiano Ronaldo is "not a big loss" to Man Utd, claims Gary Neville

dailystar.co.uk:

Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence could help the side beat Manchester City.Ronaldo is not in the matchday squad for the widely-anticipated Manchester Derby owing to injury, according to reports.And despite him being the club’s top goal soccer this season, Neville feels that him not being there is “not a huge loss.”The Sky Sports pundit is normally a huge fan of the superstar - but in this instance, against Pep Guardiola’s club who like to dominate possession, Neville feels as though Ronaldo is better served out the side anyway.

Neville said: "United over the last three or four years have been a counter-attacking team, and that will be exactly the same today I think, with Ronaldo out of the team I think they might be better off with Rashford’s pace on the counter-attack today."Ronaldo has only netted on one occasion in 2022 and despite his 15 goals in all competitions this season, some feel that manager Ralf Rangnick's tactical blueprint of high pressing does not suit the former Real Madrid man.The Atheltic report that the man to fill Ronaldo’s shoes is Marcus Rashford, a player who has not scored since January 19 against Brentford.But Neville has said the game later today at the Etihad will provide a “huge opportunity” for Rashford to get back into the swing of things, and prove his doubters wrong.Do you think Ronaldo being out will give Man United an edge?

Give us your thoughts in the comments section.The 47-year-old said: "Rashford’s got to get himself back on track, for the last year, year and a half, he’s not been playing well."They shift him to the left, to the right, down the middle, I don’t think he’s settled and grabbed a position, people refer to the off the field stuff whether it’s a distraction or not and he’s had.