04 March 2023 , 22:30
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Erik ten Hag has admitted he didn’t lose a wink of sleep when he booted Cristiano Ronaldo out of Manchester United.
Ten Hag has kept his counsel over his decision to send Ronaldo packing in November after the Portuguese superstar lambasted him and the club during an unsanctioned TV interview. But on the eve of United’s crunch visit to face Liverpool at Anfield, the United boss outlined how he had to lay down the law after inheriting a dressing room that lacked discipline.
Ten Hag said: “I had my reasons. They were obvious and I also knew the consequences. It could have had a negative outcome. That is always possible in football. But I am not worrying. I sleep well also, even during those nights.
“I have to take decisions in respect of advancing the club and the team. That is my job and that is the responsibility I have - and I have to stand by those decisions. I have to face the consequences and the impact of my decisions, not only in the short-term but also for the longer-term.
“Of course, you don’t always have a lot of time. In that period I remember we had 10 days so I could consider which choice would be the best. You always have to think strategically. But that is my job and that is the responsibility I have to take.”
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Ronaldo is now earning a bank-busting £173 million-a-year to ply his trade in the footballing backwater of Saudi Arabia while the players he left behind at Old Trafford are starting to excel under Ten Hag. The Dutchman lifted the club’s first trophy in six years when United beat Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final last weekend.
Cristiano Ronaldo had his Man Utd career ended by his interview (@piersmorgan/Twitter)The Reds are also through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, the last 16 of the Europa League - and even have an outside chance of gatecrashing the title race. Ten Hag realised when he first arrived at Old Trafford last summer that he needed to crack the whip.
He showed his holistic side by giving Jadon Sancho time away from the club to refocus himself mentally. But he also axed Marcus Rashford from the team to face Wolves in December when the in-form striker arrived late for a team meeting.
Ten Hag said: “There was (a lack of discipline) - and I don’t have to lie about it. Top players like structure - and not only on the pitch - so you need some rules.
“I think it’s obvious in every organisation that when there are no rules and no discipline in taking those rules seriously, then you create a mess. It was quite obvious what was needed because I could see on the pitch what was going on.”