Erik ten Hag hopes Cristiano Ronaldo will use his time away from the first-team squad to reflect on his conduct.
Ten Hag has confirmed Ronaldo refused to come on in Manchester United's 2-0 win over Tottenham. Ten Hag has dropped Ronaldo for Saturday's game against Chelsea for refusing to come on, with the 37-year-old forced to train away from the first-team squad until Monday.
Ronaldo is understood to have been fined two weeks' wages for his public show of dissent, with Ten Hag claiming he had already warned the forward after he left Old Trafford early during a pre-season friendly.
“It will have be a time for reflection for him, but also for everyone else,” said the United boss. “I said at the start of the season, next time there have to be consequences, otherwise when you are living together and playing together, football is a team sport and you have to fulfil certain standards. And I have to control it.
“I understand there are questions about that, but at the same time it's about Chelsea, we have a big game to play. My focus is on the game, the focus of the staff and the players is on that game. We have to win that game and have concentration to play our best."
Ten Hag also appeared to aim a thinly-veiled dig at Ronaldo. When discussing the rumours linking the Portuguese star with a move away from United last summer, the Dutchman said: “I think that [keeping the focus on the game] is part of playing top football. Sometimes there are rumours, there is noise, don't get deflected, focus on the job and perform tomorrow.”
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Asked if Ronaldo refused to come on against Spurs, Ten Hag said: “Yes. The talk - if you ask about that - is between Cristiano and me. The statement [United made] is also clear, I think.”
Asked why he felt he had to drop Ronaldo, Ten Hag said: “How we did, look at it like this - I am the manager, I am responsible for the top spot culture here and I have to set standards and values and I have to control them.
“In the team, we have values and standards and I have to control that. After Rayo Vallecano [when Rnado left the ground before the final whistle], I told him it was unacceptable. But it was not just him it was everyone. But this is the second time, so there are consequences. We miss him tomorrow, it's a miss for the squad, but it's important for the attitude and mentality of the group and now we have to focus on Chelsea as that is important.”
