Louis Saha names Manchester United players who need to take ‘focus’ away from Ronaldo

Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha has said attention should be directed away from ageing former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo and instead placed on other members of the squad who are likely to be at the club long-term.

The Portugal captain is the club’s top scorer this season with 18 goals to his name, including three in Saturday’s 3-2 win over Tottenham. Ronaldo, 37, has scored four in all against Spurs this term and two against Arsenal, but none against the top three.

He has attracted criticism because of this with United stuck in fifth, a point behind the Gunners in the Premier League table having played two games more. Saha suggested that fans’ grievances should not be directed at Ronaldo but at the likes of Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Anthony Elanga.

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“At Ronaldo's age, we shouldn't even be giving him the responsibility to play up front against Arsenal or Chelsea and expect him to score goals,” he told SPORTbible , via Freebets.com. "With all the respect, I don't think Rashford or anyone else in that squad is anywhere near his level, even at his age.

"I've seen Ronaldo has had a so-called 'bad spell' of going seven or eight games without scoring - which is human. But people shouldn't be focused on him, they should be focused on Rashford, Sancho, Elanga - those players who are here for the longer term. Being in the first team, there's no question about that - Ronaldo is still the main man for United."

Sancho and Rashford have scored five goals apiece this season while Elanga is currently on three. The English duo have been left out of Gareth Southgate’s England squad ahead of next week’s