With Monday’s huge crunch clash in the Premier League approaching, Erik ten Hag faced the media as his Manchester United side host Liverpool.
New manager Ten Hag has tasted defeat in both of his opening two games.
On the opening day of the season, the Reds fell to a 2-1 defeat to Graham Potter’s Brighton & Hove Albion, and it didn’t get any better last weekend.
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United were thumped 4-0 to Brentford, where four quickfire first half goals left Ten Hag’s men look humiliated in front of their strong away support.
But things haven’t looked much better for United’s rivals from across the M62.
Last season’s Champions League finalists Liverpool have also failed to win any of their first two games, being held to a draw by London clubs Fulham and Crystal Palace earlier this week.
For Ten Hag, a dilemma that has out shadowed the majority of his good work in pre-season has been Cristiano Ronaldo’s ongoing saga.
The Portugal international did not travel to United on their tour of Thailand and Australia, though that was due to personal reasons.
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However, Ronaldo has been linked with a move away from the club where he first laid down a marker in European football.
The 37-year-old’s magical return to Old Trafford last summer has turned quite sour, with United experiencing their worst ever Premier League season last time out, and questions have been asked whether Ronaldo fits the system, and of his attitude.
Ronaldo netted 24 times for United last season, ending as their top scorer in 2021/22.
In Friday’s press conference, Ten Hag was asked whether the former Juventus and Real Madrid man would still be at the club come the end of the transfer window, where Ten Hag answered: “He is in our plans.”
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On the opening day of the season, Ronaldo was brought on as a second half substitute due to being behind in terms of fitness, with Ten Hag opting to go with new signing Christian Eriksen in a false nine role.
Anthony Martial has been injured since the start of the season however, he was pictured in training on Friday and could be in contention to start as the central striker against Liverpool.
When asked on Ronaldo’s attitude from the game at the newly named Gtech Community Stadium, Ten Hag chose to defend the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
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He said: “I don’t know why he in particular, is [the] focus after Saturday.
“It was the team’s performance and the whole teams attitude including Ronaldo.”
In a short clip of an exclusive interview including the former Ajax manager sitting down with United legend Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher, Ten Hag was asked of what he makes of Ronaldo’s words on social media where he said he would ‘tell the truth’ in two weeks, of which Ten Hag replied: “I don’t know what he wants to achieve with that.”
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Ronaldo has been linked with a move to a number of clubs such as Premier League rivals Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid, and it has been heavily reported the striker wants out.
Ten Hag denied all the talk of Ronaldo wanting to leave however, telling Neville and Carragher, “That’s not what he’s telling us.”
The extended interview will be released ahead of kick-off on Monday at 6:30pm.
Topics: Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo, Erik Ten Hag, Transfers, Manchester United Transfer News & Rumours, Football, Premier League
Cain Smith