Ronaldo was 'super nervous' after memorable second debut at Man Utd

OLI SCARFF / AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored nearly 800 goals for club and country and won numerous trophies in a 19-year carerr but the Portuguese forward admitted having butterflies in his stomach ahead of his second debut at Manchester United on Saturday.

Ronaldo, who scored 118 goals for United during his first stint, netted twice on his return in a 4-1 win over Newcastle United at Old Trafford that sent the Manchester club to the top of the Premier League standings.

"I was really nervous, maybe I did not show it," Ronaldo told Sky Sports as he was serenaded by the United fans. "The reception was incredible.

"I was thinking last night that I wanted to show I'm still capable of helping the team. When I started the game, I was super nervous when they were singing my name but this crowd is unbelievable."

Ronaldo, who won eight major trophies with United, has rejoined the club that has failed to win the league title since they last lifted it in 2013 under his former manager Alex Ferguson.

The Portuguese forward said Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has the tools to win the league as well as the Champions League but added the team needed maturity.

"We have a fantastic team, a young team and a fantastic coach," Ronaldo said. "But... we have to build up confidence. The team needs to be mature if it wants to win the Premier League and Champions League.

"I think we are in a good way, we have to win games, build up the confidence, build up the team and I am here to help the team." 

More from Sports

  • WTA bans spectator after Raducanu incident

    The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) said it has banned a man who exhibited "fixated behaviour" towards Emma Raducanu after he was taken away by security personnel during the Briton's match at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship late on Tuesday.

  • Tiger Woods back in action in TGL loss to New York GC

    Tiger Woods has made his first start since the death of his mother when he competed in a TGL match at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Woods and his Jupiter Links GC teammates Kevin Kisner and Tom Kim lost 10-3 in a one-sided contest at the hands of the New York Golf Club.

  • Bayern's late equaliser books CL round of 16 spot

    Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies snatched a last-gasp equaliser against Celtic for a 1-1 draw on Tuesday to advance to the Champions League Round of 16 with a 3-2 aggregate win.

  • Paolini and Swiatek reach Dubai last-16

    Defending champion Jasmine Paolini overcame a rain delay on match point to advance to the last 16 of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Germany's Eva Lys.

  • Josh Tarling powers to victory in UAE Tour stage 2

    Josh Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers) won the Stage 2 time trial at the UAE Tour, setting a time of 12:55 while speeding through the 12.2 km flat course on Abu Dhabi's Al Hudayriyat Island.