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Erik ten Hag says he’ll “cope with” Cristiano Ronaldo after he left Outdated Trafford earlier than full-time in Manchester United’s 2-0 victory over Tottenham.
Unused substitute Ronaldo was seen strolling down the touchline and up the tunnel within the closing levels of Wednesday’s match at Outdated Trafford.
The 37-year-old watched from the stands as targets from Fred and Bruno Fernandes noticed United overcome Spurs to maneuver inside some extent of the Premier League’s high 4, however Ronaldo noticed sufficient when Ten Hag selected to not deliver him off the bench.
Requested whether or not Ronaldo had spoke to him earlier than strolling down the tunnel earlier than the completion of the match, United boss Ten Hag advised Amazon Prime: “He was there, I’ve seen him, however I did not communicate with him.”
In his post-match press convention, Ten Hag added: “I do not take note of that, I’ll cope with that tomorrow. I wish to maintain the give attention to the staff.
“It was magnificent from all 11 gamers. I’ve to appropriate myself. It was additionally a efficiency from the substitutes who got here on. As soon as once more, it was a squad efficiency. I feel what we’ve seen is 11 gamers who defend and 11 who assault. I used to be happy.
Man Utd reaching end of the road with Ronaldo?
Sky Sports activities soccer journalist Jack Wilkinson:
Cristiano Ronaldo has a behavior of grabbing the headlines, however not even his sulking departure might detract from one other encouraging stride in the appropriate path taken by Erik ten Hag’s gamers.
Ronaldo, an unused substitute, was sad with the watching temporary he was handed as targets from Fred and Bruno Fernandes earned a deserved 2-0 victory over Tottenham, however when United carry out to such a excessive degree, his frustrations are baseless.
From begin to end, United took a poor Spurs aspect to process, demonstrating their continued adaptation to Ten Hag’s strategies with an attacking show as complete as any seen at Outdated Trafford in reminiscence, not to mention for the reason that Dutchman took cost.
United’s 28 makes an attempt on objective was probably the most by any aspect in a Premier League match this season, probably the most Antonio Conte had ever conceded in his top-flight managerial profession, and had it not been for the heroics of Hugo Lloris, the scoreline would have been simply as emphatic.
With Ronaldo on the bench towards Liverpool, Arsenal and now Spurs, video games United have gained with rising proficiency, it is clear the membership’s transition to life with out him is already underneath manner. His petulance will solely velocity that up.
‘Ronaldo thinks he is larger than the membership’
Former England and Premier League defender Danny Mills mentioned Ronaldo’s behaviour was reprehensible if true.
“If Ronaldo has performed that, it is an absolute shame,” Mills advised Soccer Particular. “That is disrespectful to the staff, the supervisor, the followers.
“They’re successful 2-0 – what grievance can he have? In the event that they have been dropping 2-0, it would not be proper, however I might form of perceive it.
“He clearly thinks he is larger than the soccer membership… It is a egocentric act after not being concerned.
“He is aware of full properly that everyone goes to see him stroll all the best way down the touchline at Outdated Trafford, it is not like he can sneak out.
“I really feel sorry for United and Ten Hag as a result of it is all going to be about Ronaldo as a substitute of an excellent efficiency towards a high aspect.”
Keane: Man Utd are disrespecting Ronaldo
Nevertheless, Roy Keane offered a differing view on Ronaldo’s scenario when talking on Sky Sports activities within the wake of United’s 6-3 thrashing at the hands of Manchester City earlier this month.
After Ronaldo had as soon as once more been left on the bench – with Ten Hag saying he made the choice “out of respect” – Keane mentioned: “I feel United are exhibiting disrespect to Ronaldo. He ought to have been let go earlier than the switch window.
“The supervisor stored him. OK, he mentioned he wished choices. However you do not maintain Ronaldo to sit down on the bench. He is among the biggest gamers ever.
“He had choices [to move in the summer]. This concept he did not have choices is garbage. He had 4 or 5 good choices.
“The large image is that Ten Hag shouldn’t be going to play Ronaldo. It’s simply going to get uglier because the season goes on.
“United have proven nothing however disrespect to Ronaldo.”
‘I really feel sorry for Ronaldo, it’s going to be arduous for United to maneuver him on’
The Guardian’s sportswriter Jonathan Liew:
“I felt fairly sorry for him actually. It isn’t an emotion I’ve typically related to Ronaldo over time.
“No one owes him a beginning place in an enormous staff, however that is additionally the one factor he is good at, he is dominated this recreation for years and now he is sitting on the bench within the 89th minute and his time is slipping away. I simply felt this unbelievable pathos as a result of he is solely received one or two years left now on the high degree.
“You may name it petulant or a drama queen however United knew who they have been signing. You won’t need Mick Jagger in your band, however for those who do signal him up you aren’t getting him to play the tambourine.
“I feel they’re in an actual pickle as a result of Ten Hag clearly has no use for him and I do not see the place he goes from right here to be trustworthy.
“United have been doing superb commercially earlier than he joined, so I do not assume they want him for industrial causes, particularly not if he is unbalancing the staff, creating pointless headlines and particularly if he would not match into the imaginative and prescient of a high-energy urgent staff that not simply Ten Hag needs, however most elite European coaches wish to play.
“It should be actually arduous for them to maneuver him on since you want a staff as dysfunctional as United have been once they signed him to take him on and that is an more and more vanishing quantity today.”
It isn’t the primary time: Ronaldo’s earlier early exits
Ronaldo has a historical past of walkouts since he returned to the membership 14 months in the past.
The 37-year-old was an unused substitute throughout United’s 2-0 win over Spurs on Wednesday and was seen strolling down the touchline and up the tunnel within the closing levels of the match.
Earlier this season, Ronaldo was additionally seen leaving Outdated Trafford earlier than the tip of a 1-1 draw with Rayo Vallecano through the membership’s ultimate pre-season pleasant in August.
In October final yr, Ronaldo was captured marching alone down the tunnel, seemingly muttering in frustration, after United have been held to a 1-1 draw towards Everton, for whom Andros Townsend scored after which mimicked the Portugal ahead’s trademark objective celebration.