Man Utd striker Cristiano Ronaldo was benched for the first time this season against Liverpool at Old Trafford, and Erik ten Hag has revealed why.
Erik ten Hag celebrates beating Liverpool earlier this season, on a night when he dropped Cristiano Ronaldo for the first time
Erik ten Hag said he slept well after making the call to drop Cristiano Ronaldo in the Old Trafford game against Liverpool in August, a decision that accelerated the forward’s departure from the club in November.
Ronaldo pushed for a move away from Old Trafford in the summer but ended up staying at United. Having started the 4-0 defeat at Brentford, he was then dropped to the bench against Liverpool and came on for just the final four minutes of a 2-1 victory.
That success provided the lift-off for the Ten Hag era but also hinted at what was to come from Ronaldo. He found it difficult to nail down a place in the side, was punished for refusing to come on against Tottenham and then had his contract terminated by mutual consent after giving an unauthorized interview to Piers Morgan.
But ahead of the reverse fixture this weekend, Ten Hag insisted the decision to drop Ronaldo for the third game of his reign was “obvious” and that he lost no sleep over it. It was the first of several brave calls from the new United manager, but they have paid off and he heads to Anfield still in contention to win four trophies.
Ten Hag said he slept well after making a huge call to drop Cristiano Ronaldo from the side
Reflecting on the first major decision of his spell in charge at Old Trafford, Ten Hag said he was willing to face the consequences of leaving Ronaldo out, having determined it was a call he had to make.
“I have to see and face the consequences of it, the impact of the decisions not only in the short-term but also for the longer-term. Of course, you don’t always have a lot of time, in that period I remember we had 10 days so I could consider which choice would be the best,” he said.
“You always have to think strategic, what is the consequence longer-term. I am aware of it but that is my job and that is the responsibility I have to take.
“I had reasons (for the decision). They were obvious. And I knew also the consequence and also if it was a negative outcome from that game. That is always possible in football.
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“But I am not worrying. I sleep well also in those nights. I have to take the decisions in respect in advance of the club and the team. That is my job and that is the responsibility I have to take and I have to stand for those decisions.”
Something else Ten Hag is losing little sleep over is a first visit to Anfield as United manager. He took his Ajax side there in the Champions League group stages in 2020/21, but this is likely to be a different experience.
The 53-year-old is aware this is United’s biggest rivalry and, having had dinner with Sir Alex Ferguson last week, he is also aware of the Scot’s famous quote about knocking Liverpool off their perch.
Ten Hag is relishing the atmosphere on Sunday and the hostility his side will face, insisting he heads into the cauldron with a team of ‘warriors’.
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“I know what to expect. I have seen the games between Liverpool and Man Utd, so I know what is going on there,” he said.
“But I have been in many hostile stadiums. This might be the worst, but I know what’s going on there. I am really looking forward to it – and I know my players are the same.”
source: www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk
