Erik ten Hag specifically demanded that Manchester United upgraded their training ground which debunks criticism from Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese megastar has taken aim at the club, some of its high-ranking individuals and overall infrastructure in a bombshell interview with Piers Morgan. Ronaldo, who wanted to leave Old Trafford in the summer but was denied a transfer, has angered officials at United by telling all and belittling their facilities.
Mirror Football understands that the Old Trafford hierarchy are even ready to sack their No.7 and are continuing to take legal advice after issuing a firm response to the interview on Monday. Ronaldo first left the club in 2009 to head to Real Madrid before returning last summer and has opened up on his surprise that there'd been no major upgrades at the club's training ground since his initial departure.
"Nothing changed [since I left]," the 37-year-old striker told Talk TV. "The pool, the jacuzzi, even the gym, even some technology. Even the chefs who I appreciate, lovely people. I thought I would see new technology, infrastructure. I saw things I saw when I was 20, 21, 23."
United have unsurprisingly taken issue with his comments, according to ESPN. Ten Hag, who arrived from Ajax in the summer, requested that changes be made to their training base and, as a result, £200,000 was spent on improving facilities. The pool, canteen and recovery areas have all had money spent on them, whilst there is a new state-of-the-art analysis and meeting room.
Ten Hag made it clear that mass changes were needed before he was even hired by the club. The Dutchman has been allowed to make major decisions after receiving the backing of the Old Trafford boardroom and will now be left to deal with Ronaldo.
It isn't the first time that the former Ajax boss has had to deal with the fallout from a Ronaldo outburst early into his Old Trafford tenure. The former Real Madrid talisman stormed down the tunnel during the Red Devils' excellent 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in October after refusing to come on as a late substitute.
Have your say! Should Ronaldo ever play for Man Utd again? Give us your verdict in the comments section.
Ronaldo was soon handed the captain's armband by his manager for the wretched 3-1 loss at Aston Villa, though, following a brief period out of the squad as punishment. Ten Hag planned to use the five-time Ballon d'Or winner as a squad player this season, which has subsequently limited his minutes and seen Ronaldo accuse his manager of disrespecting him.
"I don't have respect for him because he doesn't show respect for me," the Portugal captain claimed in the jaw-dropping interview, via The Sun. "If you don't have respect for me, I'm never gonna have respect for you."
Some members of the dismayed United squad are already braced for Ronaldo's imminent departure, per the Daily Telegraph, as Ten Hag held crunch talks on Monday over the player's future. The Red Devils boss is believed to have spoken to chief executive Richard Arnold and football director John Murtough, with co-owner Joel Glazer also in dialogue.
