With doubts over the fitness of their regular strikers, Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has been tight-lipped regarding Cristiano Ronaldo's availability for their next match in the UEFA Europa League.
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According to the Daily Mirror, Moldovans raided the Chisinau airport on Wednesday afternoon to get a glimpse of the United team, and in particular five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo, as they arrived ahead of their Group E UEL match against FC Sheriff.
It seems the eastern Europeans are ecstatic about the chance to see the Portuguese strut his stuff in their country on Thursday night, but when Ten Hag was asked whether or not the 37-year-old would start the Europa League tie, the Dutch tactician refused to give a straight answer.
"I'm sorry, the Moldovan fans will have to wait until tomorrow," he told members of the media, as per the Mirror.
Fans who are keen to grab a selfie or an autographs from the Madeira native might not have the opportunity to do so, with Ten Hag stating that the Mancunians will jet straight back to England after their encounter with Sheriff.
"After the game we have to go straight to the airport and return to Manchester because the players have international duties and they have to be prepared for them," the United boss added.
Ronaldo seems to be the record Premier League winners' third-choice striker at the moment, but with Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford out injured, international football's all-time leading goalscorer might be in line to start for only the third time this season.
He is playing in the Europa League for first time ever this season, and having lost his and United's first game of their European campaign last week, he will be determined to rectify things, with Ten Hag describing the match as a "must-win".
"It's the same for every game, we have to win," the Netherlands native continued.
"It's clear that when you lose the first game, you have to win the second game, so we know what our task is."
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