Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has commented for the first time since the club and legendary striker Cristiano Ronaldo parted ways in November.
United terminated Ronaldo’s contract by mutual consent two days before Portugal’s World Cup campaign began after he gave an explosive interview to Piers Morgan on Talk TV in which he criticised the club and manager Ten Hag.
Ronaldo did not mince words when he said he felt “betrayed” by people at the club for trying to force him out and that he has “no respect” for Ten Hag because “he doesn’t show respect for me”.
Erik ten Hag has not publicly made any comment since Ronaldo’s outburst, but has now found his breath to do so.
The Dutchman, is in Spain with the other Man United players not at the World Cup for a winter training camp.
Here are two things he said in his first reaction since Ronaldo’s exit.
- Ronaldo is in the past: Ten Hag has refused to be taken aback on the issue of Ronaldo as he said the he has thrown the matter behind him.
“He’s gone and it’s the past.” Ten Hag told MUTV.
“We are now looking forward and we’re looking to the future”, added Ten Hag ahead of Wednesday night’s friendly against Spanish top-flight side Cadiz.
- Moving on in the right direction: Ten Hag said Manchester United is headed in the right direction.
The coach has had a transformative impact on the performances at Old Trafford after what was a nightmare start, losing their first two games of his tenure to Brighton and Brentford.
“I have the feeling, we have the feeling, that we are in the right direction, but we also know that it’s still a lot of work to do for us here,” he added.
Ronaldo, who is now free to find another club, has played down talk of a deal being agreed for him to join Saudi club Al Nassr, saying the reports are “not true”.
The 37-year-old has failed to set the World Cup alight so far and was dropped for Tuesday night’s last-16 encounter against Switzerland, with his replacement Goncalo Ramos’ hat-trick inspiring a 6-1 thrashing.
Apex Football News 