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    Soccer News: Ronaldo “changes the game” for Man Utd in the Champions League, says Saha

    Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Manchester United will push Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side towards Champions League success, according to former Red Devil Louis Saha.

    Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford, ending a 12-year absence from United after spells with Juventus and Real Madrid, with whom he won the continental competition four times.

    Saha was in his last debut with Alex Ferguson’s side at the time of Ronaldo’s first Champions League triumph, the Portugal forward scored eight times on his way to victory in the 2007-08 season.

    Returning as a 36-year-old poacher, the former Real Madrid star equaled Iker Casillas’ record for appearances in Europe against Young Boys in his 177th game, and Saha believes Ronaldo can lead Solskjaer’s side to success.

    “I think so, yes, I think so [Ronaldo to United] it’s a game changer, ”Saha told Stats Perform when asked if United could win the Champions League.

    “I think the Champions League is the toughest competition. Yes, the Premier League is a marathon and there are five to six clubs that can actually win it.

    “But the Champions League in a way that works when you have groups, you will definitely have to win [against] the biggest clubs or the biggest clubs, that’s for sure.

    Saha, speaking after United’s 2-1 defeat to Young Boys, is convinced Solskjaer has a team built to reach the highest level.

    “United have the balance they haven’t had in years to win the Champions League,” he said. “Maybe we had a lower quality squad when we won the Champions League.

    “We saw it with Chelsea, I don’t think they had a great squad, but it’s about the team and the team spirit and how you want to win it more than the others.

    “The ability not to make mistakes like they did [against Young Boys], this is the kind of challenge that the Champions League will offer to any good team that wants to go on to win the Champions League.

    “So this is the formula, match after match this team can improve and definitely fight for the win [Champions League trophy]. “

    Despite a one-goal lead against Young Boys on Tuesday, Ronaldo created another record with his first goal: the longest goal gap for the same club in the competition’s history (12 years and 132 days).

    The Swiss side also became the 36th different team against which the striker has scored, extending his goal tally to 135 goals in 177 games, 15 ahead of Lionel Messi, second in the all-time top scorer list.

    With Ronaldo in the lead, Saha expects continued success for United for three reasons as they seek to challenge domestically and in Europe.

    “The first is because the guy is very obsessed at the door,” he said.

    “He will bring this kind of obsession and demanding from his players around. The second is his stats, he is a player who will score goals for fun.

    “He has already scored three goals in two games. Let’s say it’s a guarantee. If you play you will have 25 to 30 goals, maybe not in the Premier League, but put together it’s almost a guarantee.

    “At the same time the actual mental impact on the other teams. Go there and you have [Raphael] Varano, [Jadon] Sancho, Cristiano Ronaldo, joined the already very talented team.

    “I think it gives a different aura to the team, it definitely pushes United forward in these aspects, so it’s a big change for the title. [race]. [They are] definitely up there with Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea I would say ”.

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