As reported by Diario AS, Manchester United have taken disciplinary action against Cristiano Ronaldo (37 years) after he left in 89 ‘of the game against Tottenham Hotspur. He did not play a single minute of that match and left before the final whistle at Old Trafford without going through the changing rooms.
But Cristiano’s gesture has ended up having consequences, and as the Mancunian team has reported in a statement, he will not be part of the team in the next game with Chelsea, this Saturday (at 6:30 p.m. Spanish time). It’s more, the Madeira player is expected to pay an economic fine.
“Cristiano Ronaldo will not be part of the Manchester United squad for this Saturday’s Premier League game against Chelsea. The rest of the squad is fully focused on preparing for that match”, United have published on their official website.
In addition, as this newspaper has learned, the delicate situation between Cristiano and United has become tense in the last weeks. “It’s coming a long way,” internal sources point out, who have finally seen how a decision has been made in this regard after a small ‘crisis cabinet’ in Carrington.
Cristiano: “Giving in to pressure is not an option. It never was”
The Portuguese has spoken through his Instagram account, where he has shown his opinion about what happened.
As I have always done throughout my career, I try to live and play with respect towards my teammates, my opponents and my coaches. That has not changed. I have not changed. I am the same person and the same professional that I have 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 examples of the oldest and most experienced players were always very important to me. Therefore, later I have always tried to set an example myself for the young people who grew up in all the teams I have represented. Unfortunately, that’s not always possible and sometimes the heat of the moment gets the best of us.
Right now, I just feel like I have to keep working hard at Carrington, support my teammates and be ready for anything in any game. Giving in to pressure is not an option. It never was. This is Manchester United, and united we must stand. Soon we will be together again.
reduced influence
Cristiano Ronaldo is back in the spotlight. He alone. In preseason he already left a game before time. It was against Rayo Vallecano, with the footballer pushing to try to get a new contract away from Old Trafford and compete again in the Champions League. He didn’t make it. With the arrival of Erik ten Hag on the Manchester United bench, the Portuguese star’s influence has been reduced. He three times he has started in the Premier League. The first in the landslide that his team conceded in Brentford. A slap to the whole team. But the Red Devils woke up, with Ronaldo making cameo appearances from the bench.
He has scored two goals. One, a penalty in the Europa League against the Sheriff, and the most recent in the victory against Everton at Goodison Park. Beating Jordan Pickford, Cristiano Ronaldo secured all three points and reached 700 career goals at club level. The performances after this feat, against Omonia and Newcastle United last week, did not earn him a place in the game on Wednesday against Tottenham. Ronaldo waited for his moment, but it never came. He heated up for several stretches, but when Ten Hag made the third substitution bringing on Christian Eriksen in the 87th minute, the Portuguese decided he had had enough. He headed down the locker room tunnel before the final whistle. Despite the great performance of his teammates. Despite having secured the three points against a direct rival for the Champions League positions.
And the barrage of criticism came. “I understand his frustration at not getting out on the pitch, but the general perspective is that his team had a very good performance tonight,” he said. Alan Shearer during the broadcast on English television. “His coach had to make an important decision, to leave him out, and it has turned out to be the right one because the team has done everything well. It is a difficult situation for Ten Hag, we are talking about the best player in the world and one of the best in history, so he is under pressure. He is making life difficult for his coach.”
The English striker has already taken note of Ronaldo’s absence during the match, focusing on Bruno Fernandes. “Would I be exaggerating if I said that he seems happier without Ronaldo in the team? His performance tonight had a lot of energy, leadership and quality both offensively and defensively. He did a lot for the team. He deserved the goal”.
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