Gary Neville claims Cristiano Ronaldo storming off down the tunnel after Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Everton at Old Trafford will only add to the pressure mounting on manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The Red Devils put in a lethargic display against the Toffees, despite Solskjaer making changes from the side that narrowly beat Villarreal in the Champions League.
One of those changes was benching Ronaldo in favour of Edinson Cavani, and although the Portuguese superstar came on with over half an hour remaining, he was unable to add to the three Premier League goals he has already notched since he rejoined the club.
Instead, Andros Townsend equalised for Everton after Ronaldo had entered the fray, leading the 36-year-old to head straight for the tunnel after the full-time whistle was blown. Those actions, in the view of Neville, will only increase the pressure on Solskjaer amid continued fan discontent.
"I watched the game and I watched him walk off. I can't say I liked it." Neville wrote in a column for Sky Sports. "Is Cristiano upset when he doesn't play? Yes. Is Cristiano upset when he doesn't score? Yes. Is Cristiano annoyed as hell when the team don't win? Of course.
"We know those things. He doesn't have to prove that. He walks off the pitch, muttering to himself, which throws questions up in the air. What is he saying? Who is he annoyed with? It can only come back to the manager.
"Cristiano is smart enough to know actions like that will bring real pressure on the manager - more than he is already under. It is what it is, but I think that is something that has to be managed in the next couple of months.
"Cristiano is not always going to score and he maybe can't play every game. But if he's going to walk off like that, it's going to put immense pressure on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer."
The draw with Rafa Benitez's Toffees means United are still well placed in the Premier League, lying fourth and just two points behind early pacesetters Chelsea.
But it's the manner of some of United's performances, Solskjaer's team selection and the recent defeat to Young Boys in the Champions League that continue to dominate the headlines; something that is unlikely to change regardless of whether Ronaldo can regularly score goals to lead United to victories.
The Norwegian's players will now jet off around the world for the upcoming international break, before resuming their Premier League campaign away at Leicester on 16 October.
Source : 90min