Manchester United have made their allegiance clear to Cristiano Ronaldo by hailing the influence of Erik ten Hag on the club website.
The Dutchman, hired by the club in the summer, was among several individuals who were targeted in an interview given by the player to Piers Morgan. Ten Hag has used Ronaldo sporadically this term, handing him just four league starts, which has seen the forward claim he has no respect for his manager.
Ten Hag has had to deal with several issues surrounding Ronaldo, but his latest misdemeanour is the most high profile one yet. It has seen club officials take legal advice and it is understood lawyers have told them they have grounds to terminate Ronaldo's deal for breach of contract. He is now facing the sack for bringing the club into disrepute.
And, in a recent article posted to their website, the club have nailed their colours firmly to the Dutchman's mast
The article details the rise of their recent player of the month - Alejandro Garnacho - and says in the title "Erik's blueprint is evident". The young Argentine scored their recent winner at Fulham and has been handed the individual accolade. Ten Hag has been praised for having "a reputation as a manager who trusted youth".
Ronaldo's absence from the team has often seen them pick up results with many onlookers now adamant that United are a better collective unit minus the global superstar. The article states that "Ten Hag’s side retains a great balance" as they continue to push for the top four.
Garnacho's award means he follows previous winners Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez - all three bought in by Ten Hag this summer. The Dutchman has looked to put his stamp on things and assert his authority, which he has certainly done.
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Martinez, who worked with Ten Hag at Ajax, copped early criticism for his lack of height with several pundits arguing he wouldn't be able to cope in England's top flight. He has since been a top performer with the club website stating his "signing was a masterstroke by Ten Hag."
Ronaldo wanted to leave in the summer and spoke openly about the club's infrastructure and the owners in a scathing assessment. Ronaldo also accused Ten Hag of "provoking" his early walkout against Tottenham earlier this season.
He told Talk TV : "It’s something that I regret to leave from the stadium. Probably, or maybe no, I don’t know. It’s difficult to tell you 100% but let’s say I regret, but in the same way I felt provoked by the coach. Not allowed for me, a coach to put me in three minutes in a game. Sorry, I’m not that kind of player. I know what I can give to the teams.”
It appears he now has no way back.
