Ronaldo exited due to Erik Ten Hag’s one rule – Bruno Fernandes. Bruno Fernandes, a midfielder for Manchester United, gave fans a sneak look at Erik ten Hag’s rigid rules that caused Cristiano Ronaldo to leave the team. The Portuguese forward departed the Red Devils in November of last year after a disagreement with the manager. On BTSport, Fernandes spoke with United legend Rio Ferdinand about the adjustments brought about by Ten Hag.
The former Sporting CP went into great detail about the regulations the manager implemented at Old Trafford: “He makes demands of other people. If you don’t do it, you’re fired. Not at all. A powerful player will tear him apart if he doesn’t do what he desires. And he accomplished that, along with Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Cristiano Ronaldo, and others.”
Ten Hag is known for being extremely disciplined, which caused conflict with Cristiano Ronaldo towards the end of his second stint at Manchester United. In a friendly matchup at home against Rayo Vallecano earlier in the season, the legendary forward left the field at halftime, leaving the new boss unimpressed.
A bigger offense was committed by Ronaldo, though, when he stormed out of the tunnel after the Red Devils’ 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in October and refused to play as a replacement. Ten Hag gave the attacker a one-game suspension.
In a statement to British journalist Piers Morgan about the incident, Ronaldo expressed regret but maintained that Ten Hag had disrespected him. He said: “It’s tough to tell you 100%, but let’s say I regret, but in the same way I felt provoked by the coach… It is not permitted for me to play for three minutes in a competition, per the coach. I’m sorry, but I don’t operate like that. I am aware of what I can offer the players.”
Ronaldo’s final move as a member of Manchester United was the interview. In November of last year, the club and the Portuguese forward reached an understanding to end his deal.
According to Richard Keys, a reporter for BeIN Sports, Ronaldo choked Rashford at Old Trafford last year. He emphasized how much better the attacker has become since Ronaldo left. In his blog, Keys stated: “If Erik ten Hag did anything to assist Marcus Rashford, it was by moving Cristiano Ronaldo out of the way. He was a pain in the club and choked players like Rashford of their vitality. Rashford scored eight goals in 19 games at United when Ronaldo started the contest.”
“Now that Ronaldo is gone, it is 16 in 17 — 10 in 10 in the PL,” Keys continued. “Although there are undoubtedly other variables, those statistics are accurate.” After netting 24 goals in 39 games during the 2021–22 season, Ronaldo’s departure from Manchester United left Ten Hag’s team in need of a frontman to take center stage.
Rashford came in to fill Ronaldo’s shoes, and he has done so admirably. In 36 appearances across competitions this season, he has scored 24 goals. Under Ten Hag, the English striker is having his most successful season to date.
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