Rio Ferdinand accuses Erik ten Hag of sending mixed messages to Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has accused Erik ten Hag of sending mixed messages to forward Cristiano Ronaldo. The former Red Devil feels the Dutch manager could have prevented the current situation with the Portuguese.
The 37-year-old refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur. Ten Hag’s team took on Spurs at Old Trafford and won 2-0. However, the positive result was marred by the five-time Ballon d’Or winner going down the tunnel before full-time.
Speaking to BT Sport (h/t Metro), Ferdinand, who spent 12 years at United, feels the Dutch manager could have better communicated his decisions to Ronaldo to avoid the eventual fallout.
“Throw me five minutes here and two minutes there. It was disrespectful against Man City to bring me on for a few minutes in that game so why’s it not disrespectful to do it here?
“What signals is that sending to me? I think prevention in all these cases is the key. Foresee this happening before it happens and communicate to the player because you know he expects to play, expects to score goals, expects to be relied upon.”
The Portugal international has been on the bench in most games this season. In the Premier League, the 37-year-old has started just two games for the Red Devils.
Ronaldo has cut a frustrating figure on the pitch on most occasions under Ten Hag. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner seems to be missing his shooting boots in the current campaign.
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Ronaldo scored his 700th club career goal against Everton in the league in a 2-1 victory at Goodison Park. However, he has not had much joy apart from that.
The former Ajax head coach has preferred Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial over the former Real Madrid star in the centre-forward position. And the English and French forwards have made a case for themselves with their displays.
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This seems to have been a long time coming. Ronaldo has not looked happy this season. When he was substituted off against Newcastle United, the forward was evidently disgruntled. Will the infraction against Tottenham be the end of the 37-year-old’s career in Manchester? Only time will tell.
