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Erik ten Hag has warned Cristiano Ronaldo he must work harder for the team and prove his fitness to earn a place back in Manchester United’s starting line-up.
Ronaldo, 37, made it clear he wanted to leave Old Trafford during the summer window for a Champions League club but no deal could be struck for a player whose wages exceed £400,000 per week and had the rest of the season left on his United contract.
Ten Hag has started Ronaldo in just one of United’s four matches this season, with the team on a three-match winning run since he was axed.
United’s manager, ahead of Sunday’s fixture against Arsenal, says he will be Ronaldo’s “teacher” now he is staying at the club until at least January following the summer transfer window closing on Thursday.
“I will be his friend. Sometimes I will be his teacher. It depends on the situation,” said Ten Hag. “As we all know, he didn’t have the pre-season and you can not miss the pre-season. Especially the game we play, the way of play is not the type in comparison with last year.
“It depends, (and) demands, co-operation and demands certain positioning, in and out of possession. And the other thing is the fitness.”
Ronaldo was left in transfer limbo after failing to secure his move away, with Chelsea quickly making it clear they were walking away from a potential deal. Offers from Italy or Spain did not materialise in the final days of the window.https://kmaupdates.com/
Ten Hag must decide whether Ronaldo returns to the starting line-up at Old Trafford today to face Arsenal, who wanted Lisandro Martinez from Ajax in the summer window before losing out to United. The Argentina centre-back has been a key performer in United’s revival after he was subbed at half-time of the 4-0 defeat to Brentford.
“I wanted him. Ball-playing but also you see his defending capabilities,” said Ten Hag. “His toughness, his positioning, his
anticipating. Togetherness. I know what he is able to do. He has pace. He is doing well but he has to do much better.
“The players who we signed are internationals for their countries. Secondly, they have performed really well in the Champions League. And third also, they have individual skills, they are capable of playing high-intensity football, the players we selected. The players we recruited.”