Manchester United had a fantastic evening on the pitch. Their 2-0 victory over Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur lifted them to fifth in the Premier League table and was widely heralded as the finest performance yet of Erik ten Hag’s fledgling reign.
However, trouble was brewing just a few feet from the pitch.
Cristiano RonaldoIn the 89th minute, a substitute was left on the bench and walked down through the tunnel. Then, he left Old Trafford.Simon Hooper had previously blown his whistle for full time before being appointed as referee.
Ten Hag promised after the match that he would “deal with” Ronaldo walking straight down the tunnel on Thursday. It was then revealed that he refused to play against Spurs.
The result was a statement. Manchester United on Thursday evening, which said: “Cristiano Ronaldo will not be part of the Manchester United squad for this Saturday’s Premier LeagueFor the benefit of others Chelsea. The rest of the squad is fully focused on preparing for that fixture.”
He is training alone and will be separated from the first team ahead of Saturday’s 5.30pm kick-off at Stamford Bridge.
Later on Thursday evening, Ronaldo released a lengthy statement saying “giving into the pressure is not an option” but it did not contain the words “sorry” or “apology”.
The AthleticExplores what happened to Ronaldo, United and possibly what the future holds. PortugalWith the World Cup just a month away…
What happened to Spurs’ team?
Ronaldo watched on the bench as his United team-mates beat Spurs through goals by Fred Fernandes.
He was standing at Old Trafford’s dugout wall as Ten Hag made a two-substitution (sending on Anthony Elanga after 87 minutes and Christian Eriksen afterwards). It was revealed on Thursday that he had refused the opportunity to play with his team 2-0 up.
After 89 minutes, Ronaldo got up and headed down the tunnel — despite Ten Hag still having two more substitutions to use. He left Old Trafford just before the last whistle. TottenhamIn the dressing room.
Asked about Ronaldo leaving the pitch early, Ten Hag told Amazon: “I don’t pay attention today, we deal with that tomorrow. It was an outstanding performance by all 11 players, and I want to concentrate on that team. It was not a performance of the subs. A squad performance.”
However, others went even further.
“That is unacceptable, it is so poor,” the former England striker Gary Lineker said on BBC’s Match of the Day. Micah Richards, a Premier League champion with Manchester City, added: “For one of the greats of the game to do that when your team is winning, making it about him, is disappointing.”
How did Ten Hag handle Thursday’s incident?
It was Ten Hag’s decision to leave Ronaldo out of the squad for the trip to Chelsea, as well as make him train on his own, and the club have backed him to the effect.
Ronaldo is wanted by the Dutchman, but it must be at his discretion as manager.
United refused to answer a question about Ronaldo’s actions.
Ronaldo has a form for such a behavior?
Ten Hag was critical of Ronaldo and the Manchester United players leaving an early pre-season friendly against Rayo Vallecano.
Ronaldo was replaced at half-time. The match was then captured outside the ground. Diogo dalot was another one to leave before the end.
Speaking after that game in the summer, Ten Hag said: “I certainly don’t condone this. This is unacceptable. We are a team and you have to stay until the end.”
Ronaldo has also pulled the same stunt in a competitive fixture — but not in Manchester.
In November 2019, Juventus’ Maurizio Saric replaced Ronaldo by Paulo Dybala. Argentina’s striker scored the winning goal.
Sarri had substituted Ronaldo twice in one week. However, the veteran striker was unhappy to be replaced. Sky Italia reported immediately that Ronaldo left the Juventus Stadium shortly before the end of the match.
What has Ronaldo spoken?
In a statement, Ronaldo said: “As I’ve always done throughout my career, I try to live and play respectfully towards my colleagues, my adversaries and my coaches. That hasn’t changed. I haven’t changed. I’m the same person and the same professional that I’ve been for the last 20 years playing elite football, and respect has always played a very important role in my decision-making process.
“I started very young, the older and most experienced players’ examples were always very important to me. Therefore, later on, I’ve always tried to set the example myself for the youngsters that grew in all the teams that I’ve represented. Unfortunately that’s not always possible and sometimes the heat of the moment gets the best of us.
“Right now, I just feel that I have to keep working hard in Carrington, support my team-mates and be ready for everything in any given game. It is not possible to give in to the pressure. It was never like that. Manchester United is here, and we must all stand united. Soon we’ll be together again.”
What’s the next step?
In many ways, it’s as you were.
Ronaldo was only offered a place in Saudi Arabia in a summer when he stated that he wanted to leave United. Champions League football. His representatives attempt to seduce Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Napoli. BarcelonaIt did not become anything concrete.
Ten Hag initially wanted United to dig in and keep one of the game’s greatest ever players on their books. But after returning from United’s tour of Thailand Australia, which Ronaldo missed for personal reasons, his reintegration into the squad proved challenging.
The 4-0 loss to BrentfordTen Hag was more open to Ronaldo’s departure.
However, the 37-year old is still under contract for the remainder of the season. It appears that he would still need a willing suitor to end his second unhappy spell at United in January.
What’s the Portuguese view ahead of the World Cup in Brazil?
Ronaldo’s lack of form and match sharpness has often felt irrelevant when he pulls on a Portugal shirt.
His tally of 117 international goals is a world record in the men’s game and only two players (Malaysia’s Soh Chin-Ann and Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa) have more caps than his 190.
This, coupled with a Euro 2016 triumph, is enough to earn him God-like status in Portugal, and who would be brave enough to drop their country’s best and most decorated player of all time?
But after a disappointing performance against Spain last month, Portuguese news outlet A Bola said Ronaldo’s game time for his national team “might have to be reduced”.
Ronaldo can be motivated to score goals for United, or at the very least, keep him fit for Portugal’s World Cup.
Portugal play GhanaQatar, 24 November before facing UruguaySouth Korea in Group H. LiverpoolAfter the Portugal match, forward Diogo Joto won’t be in the squad. Calf injuries in Sunday’s 1-0 win against Manchester City,
