Erik Ten Hag says Manchester United lacked ‘belief’ as he explains he did not play Cristiano Ronaldo ‘out of respect for his big career’.
Erling Haaland and Phil Foden scored hat-tricks as Man City thumped Man Utd at the Etihad on Sunday; Cristiano Ronaldo was an unused substitute for the first time this season.
Former United captain Gary Neville said on Twitter: “I get [Ten Hag’s] point to be honest. “Bringing Ronaldo on at 4-0 and 6-1 would have been an insult. Ten Hag may not have delivered the line correctly and probably would have been best not saying it, but I like his honesty.”
Manager Erik ten Hag claimed his players have a lack of “belief”.
I’m surprised why we didn’t bring it on the pitch. “It was four weeks ago, but I had seen a different team with a different spirit and a different vibe. Today, we weren’t convincing.
From the first minute, we were not on the front foot and we were not brave in possession. “It’s always difficult to find out why that is, especially straight after the game.
I will have to talk to my players and find out. “They know they can do better. You saw the performances against Arsenal and Liverpool but if you don’t fight which we didn’t then you have a problem against a team like Manchester City.
“Once again, it was a lack of belief.”
Roy Keane has accused Manchester United of disrespecting Cristiano Ronaldo
Former Manchester United skipper Roy Keane has accused the club of “showing disrespect” to Cristiano Ronaldo by leaving him sitting on the substitutes’ bench.
Roy Keane : “I think United are showing disrespect to Ronaldo. He should have been let go before the transfer window. “The manager held on to him. Ok, he said he wanted options.
But you don’t hold on to Ronaldo to sit on the bench. He is one of the greatest players ever. He had options [to move in the summer]. This idea he didn’t have options is rubbish.
He had four or five good options. “The big picture is that he Ten Hag is not going to play Ronaldo. It is just going to get uglier as the season goes on. “United have shown nothing but disrespect to Ronaldo.”
