Cristiano Ronaldo claims that Erik ten Hag “provoked” him in the second segment of their interview, which aired on TalkTV on Thursday night.
The Manchester United manager is not “respected” in the manner that the Portuguese megastar claims he “deserves,” according to the star’s string of harsh criticisms.
In reference to the incident in which United’s number 7 departed the stadium prior to the end of the game against Tottenham, Ronaldo was speaking about the event on Thursday when he was questioned by journalist Piers Morgan about his unwillingness to enter as a second-half substitute in the 2-0 victory.
Get Instantly Update By: Joining Our Whatapps and Telegram Channel
In the 6-3 loss to Manchester City at the beginning of October, Ten Hag declined to add Ronaldo “out of respect for his enormous career,” which Ronaldo claims contributed to his decision-making when he refused to come in against Spurs. The Portugal captain, though, claims he “regrets” leaving Old Trafford just before the end of regulation.
“You respect my career by not starting me against Manchester City, but you want to start me for three minutes against Tottenham? It is not logical.
“I believe he intended to do it. Not just because of the game, but even earlier, I felt provoked. He doesn’t treat me with the respect I ought to receive.
But that is how things are. This is presumably the reason I departed the game against Tottenham.
“To be completely honest with you, leaving the stadium [during the match against Tottenham] is something I regret. Probably, or perhaps not; I’m not sure.
It’s difficult to be completely honest with you, but let’s say I regret it. However, I also felt provoked by the coach.
“It [is] not permitted for me for a coach to give me three minutes in a game. I’m sorry, but I don’t play like that. I am aware of what I can offer the teams.
These criticisms of United by Ronaldo will not be well received, and Ten Hag’s position is further strengthened by the fact that the Dutchman’s decision to bench Ronaldo against Tottenham was justified as United put on possibly their greatest performance of the year, defeating Spurs 2-0.
Ten Hag has every right to make the significant choices that he does since, in the end, only the former Ajax manager can solve United’s problems.