Erik ten Hag has confirmed Cristiano Ronaldo refused to come on as a late substitute against Tottenham before coming off early during Wednesday’s win.
Manchester United’s manager left Ronaldo for Saturday’s game against Chelsea as punishment for leaving a game early for the second time this football season.
In his pre-match press conference, Ten Hag said: “What happened a) the talk between Cristiano and me.
“I am the manager, I am responsible for the highest sporting culture here and I have to set standards and values, and I have to control them. We are in a team.
Image: Cristiano Ronaldo
“We’ll miss him tomorrow, it’s a miss for the squad but I think it’s important for the attitude, the mentality of the group.”
Ten Hag reiterated that Ronaldo “remains an important part of the squad”, although the forward will train on his own on Friday.
Image: Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag
“I think it will be a reflection for him and for everyone else as well,” Ten Hag said of what he hoped Ronaldo’s punishment would achieve.
More about Cristiano Ronaldo
“I put a warning at the start of the season and next time there has to be a consequence. When you are living together, playing together, football is a team sport and you have to meet certain standards and I have to control that “.
Ronaldo admitted on Instagram on Thursday night that “sometimes the heat of the moment gets the better of us” and said he would do his best to try and regain his place in the starting line-up.