If Ten Hag wants to join the management elite, he will use Ronaldo, and how the new Manchester United coach answers that question could define his tenure.
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ten Hag: No “risk” to come to Manchester United
The idea that Cristiano Ronaldo was THE problem at Manchester United last season seems to be becoming more popular.
Jamie Carragher is the latest expert to suggest that Ronaldo is at the root of United’s problems. In fact, to be fair to Carragher, he has long expressed this view. John Barnes recently said that Ronaldo brings “disharmony” and “disunity” to the team.
Barnes says United would be a better team without him and Carragher believes Erik ten Hag should insist that Ronaldo leave. It would be, Carragher says, a “big, bold decision.” It would be too correct. It would also be wrong.
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Barnes and Carragher could be two former Liverpool players doing a bit of a cross at the expense of Manchester United, but for much of Ronaldo’s first campaign in the Premier League, you could see where they came from. I was practically with them. But towards the end of the season, Ronaldo was one of United’s most dynamic players in the park. In the end-of-season games against Arsenal, Norwich and Chelsea, he was as hardworking as any of his teammates.
Given that he will turn 38 next February, he is unlikely to push hard, but if that’s the way it is at Ten Hag, he should make sure there are others to make up for it. The bottom line is that if Ten Hag has the managerial skills to join the elite, he will use a man who scored 24 goals last season to his advantage.
He will use a man who remains as brilliant as any Premier League player to his advantage. He will use a man whose gifts as a finalist do not seem to be diminishing in the slightest. And Ten Hag will have to deal with difficult things: telling Ronaldo that he may not play against certain opponents and telling him to reduce his histrionics.
Have your say! Should Man Utd sell Ronaldo … or make him captain? Join the debate here.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s future at Man Utd remains uncertain (
Image:
Tom Purslow / Manchester United via Getty Images)
Robbie Savage has said in these pages and on television and radio that Ronaldo is an inspiration for young Old Trafford players. Robbie’s son Charlie has just signed an extended contract and was recently photographed receiving advice from Ronaldo.
Maybe Ten Hag can encourage that mentoring role. Maybe Ten Hag might even consider giving him the captaincy of the club, maybe that would make Cristiano think twice before throwing himself once with one of his teammates. When asked if Ronaldo was part of his plans, Ten Hag was not optimistic in his statement, but said, “Of course.” And of course it should be.
In the long run, obviously, Ronaldo will not be key to Ten Hag’s plans. But if Ten Hag somehow can’t make Ronaldo’s continued, goal-scoring brilliance a key part of the first stage of his revolution, he probably shouldn’t have given it the job.
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