Cristiano in crisis as Manchester United to equal longest wait for a trophy since relegation in 1974

The 2021/22 season will end without Manchester United winning a single piece of silverware, which will come as a novel and unwanted experience for Cristiano Ronaldo. It will be the first time in 17 years that he ends a season empty handed.

United's Champions League elimination at the hands of Atletico Madrid at Old Trafford on Tuesday night confirmed that they would go without any trophies this season, making this their fifth consecutive season without winning a piece of silverware. The last time Cristiano Ronaldo failed to win a trophy was in 2005.

The earliest United can win another piece of silverware is now February 2023, when they will be aiming to be competing for the Carabao Cup. This, though, will see them extend their drought to five years, equalling their longest-ever wait for silverware since last being relegated all the way back in 1974.

What's worse is that Manchester United's involvement in next season's Champions League is far from certain, with Arsenal in pole position to pip them to fourth place in the Premier League at the moment.

Cristiano's crisis

Cristiano Ronaldo has had his problems since rejoining Manchester United from Juventus last summer, having had some in Turin as well.

On Tuesday he failed to have a single shot at goal in the entirety of the game against Atletico Madrid, which was only the third time in his Champions League career that he has endured such a torrid time. The previous time came in 2011 against Barcelona as a Real Madrid player.