Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said ahead of his side’s trip to Chelsea that he wants axed star Cristiano Ronaldo to continue at the club despite the recent tantrums. Ronaldo grabbed all the headlines in United’s 2-0 win over Tottenham despite not playing, as he walked down tunnel furiously after refusing to come on as a substitute. Ten Hag once again benched the Portuguese forward for a crucial game which didn’t sit well with the 37-year-old who openly displayed his frustration.
Ronaldo wasn’t present for Ten Hag’s post-match talk as well, as a result of which the Dutchman snubbed the forward from his travelling squad for Chelsea. The United manager explained his decision since this was the second time Ronaldo breached the rules set by him after the Rayo Vallecano game in the preseason, where the No.7 left for home after being subbed-off. However, this new rift has fueled the rumours that the former Real Madrid star now wants to leave the club as soon as possible in January. But Ten Hag has different feelings as he shared them during his latest press conference.
Its a strike – Ten Hag explains Cristiano Ronaldo snub as he urges the forward to stay
Cristiano Ronaldo has often found himself at crossroads now with Ten Hag, who has opted against to build his team around the 700-goal forward. As a result, the Portugal captain has only been handed with 2 starts in 8 Premier League games, managing just one goal. Further on, Ronaldo’s constant clashes with Ten Hag are no secret as the United boss himself revealed that the forward refused to come on as a substitute against Spurs.
This was just one instance since United’s disastrous start to the season, where they lost their league opener against Brighton which was followed by a 4-0 drubbing by Brentford also saw Ronaldo ignore defensive instructions from his gaffer. Ten Hag has already insisted he wants to be the man in full control at the club, and that such conduct from players will have “consequences”. Speaking in his pre-match presser as a Ronaldo-less United prepares for their Chelsea clash, Ten Hag was asked whether Cristiano Ronaldo refused to come on as a sub, he said:
“Yes. [But] what [happened in] the talk is between Cristiano and me. The [club] statement is also clear. I am the manager, I’m responsible for the top sport culture here and I have to set standards and values, and I have to control them. We are in a team.
“After Rayo Vallecano I said it’s unacceptable but he wasn’t the only one. That is for everyone, when it’s the second time it will have consequence. That is now what we did. We’ll miss him tomorrow, it’s a miss for the squad but I think it’s important for the attitude, mentality for the group.”
Ten Hag was further put the big question, that whether the five-time Ballon d’Or winner will continue at the club beyond January, and whether he on personal terms wanted the player to stay, the manager replied:
“Both. It [dropping Ronaldo] is for this game and then we continue. It’s a strike. As we said in the statement, Cristiano remains an important part of the squad and I count on him for the rest of the season. We want to fulfil our ambitions.”
Contrary to the former Ajax manager’ claims, many have tipped that the tunnel walk was Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘last act’ at Old Trafford as he will be allowed to leave in the upcoming winter transfer window. Moreover, some reports also tell that if all the player fails to find himself a new suitor, the Red Devils are prepared to terminate his deal after being fed up of his antics. Ronaldo’s return to Old Trafford may have been dramatic, but it seems his exit is going to be a more debatable.