Ten Hag says Cristiano Ronaldo must face consequences of his actions

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Erik ten Hag says Cristiano Ronaldo must face the consequences of his actions after storming down the tunnel against Tottenham before full-time.

Ronaldo will not be involved against Chelsea, United confirmed in a statement last night.

Predictably, Erik ten Hag’s pre-Chelsea press conference was still dominated by questions about Ronaldo.

Ten Hag answered impressively, laying down the law, making crystal clear he is the manager and any player who challenges his authority will face the consequences, no matter who they are.

Cristiano Ronaldo must face consequences

Ten Hag explained he had warned Cristiano Ronaldo in pre-season and this was his moment to take action.

He also was very clear that he had to do so, in order to set a precedent for other players to prevent them from stepping out of line.

Ten Hag told the club website: “I’m responsible for the culture and I have to set standards and values, and I have to control them. We are in a team and in a team we have standards and values, and we have to control it.

“So after Rayo Vallecano I said it was not acceptable, but he was not the only one. That was for everyone. So when it’s the second time, that will have consequences, and that is what we did.”

Ten Hag also added that not having Ronaldo available against Chelsea will be a ‘miss’ for his side, but he regarded setting the right culture as the correct decision.

He said: “So we miss him tomorrow and that is a miss for us and the squad. It’s a miss, but I think it’s important for the attitude for the mentality for the group, and now we have to focus on Chelsea and that is the most important.

“I think it will have a reflection, for him, but also for everyone else. I set a warning at the start of the season, and the next time it has to be consequence, otherwise when you are living together, when you are playing together – and football is a team sport – you have to fulfil certain standards. And I have to control it.”

Ten Hag added that Ronaldo refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham late in the game, but stated he still views him as a part of his first team squad.

Ronaldo expressed some contrition with a statement last night, even if it lacked the words ‘I’m sorry’. He is currently training with the under-21s.