Featured Image Credit: via TikTok/Twitter
Topics: Erik Ten Hag, Cristiano Ronaldo, Football, Manchester United
Nasir Jabbar
Topics: Erik Ten Hag, Cristiano Ronaldo, Football, Manchester United
New footage of how the situation unfolded between Cristiano Ronaldo and Erik ten Hag has emerged online and it makes for damning viewing.
Ronaldo refused to come on as a substitute in Manchester United's 2-0 win over Tottenham last week.
Ten Hag subsequently banished him from the first-team and left him out of the matchday squad for their Premier League fixture at Chelsea.
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A new video now appears to show Ronaldo and Ten Hag in conversation during the game before the superstar forward stormed down the tunnel.
The clip shows the Dutch boss speaking to Ronaldo, who seems to make a finger-wagging gesture in his direction.
From there, the 37-year-old leaves his seat to stand against the dug-out. He embraced with Jadon Sancho and Casemiro, then made his way down the tunnel.
Ronaldo's behaviour against Spurs was condemned by Peter Schmeichel, who called his outburst an unwanted distraction.
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But Rio Ferdinand and Roy Keane passionately jumped to their former teammate's defence.
Ferdinand believes Ten Hag should treat Ronaldo 'differently' because he's a 'special' player while Keane also showed sympathy.
The Irishman said: "I try and see it from the player’s point of view, and he’s obviously had enough, he’s lost his head and I think that’s been brewing over the last few weeks with Ronaldo.
"But I’ll still try to defend him. He’s a human being, he’s got flaws, he feels frustrated that he’s not been properly getting opportunities and he’s had enough."
Keane added: "He’s walked down the tunnel... I think players have done a lot worse things at Manchester United, it happens, it’s human nature.
"Everybody was saying after they beat Spurs and that it was a big win, the best performance in years – absolute rubbish, Spurs were terrible.
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"Manchester United managed to beat Spurs last year at home as well, and Ronaldo got a hat-trick, so he’s more than capable of getting on that pitch and making a difference.
"He has to take his punishment. Is there a way back for him? I’m not sure.
"I still think Ronaldo’s behaviour over the last week... I’d be more worried if Ronaldo was sitting on the bench every week laughing his head off and not caring."
Ronaldo has returned to training with Man United ahead of their games against Sheriff and West Ham.
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Will he feature this week? Watch this space.