It was a calculated power play that was designed to put Manchester United in a weaker position. Instead, the bombshell dropped by Cristiano Ronaldo has only served to unite the club and its supporters in defense of the manager at the expense of Ronaldo himself.
Ronaldo will still get what he wants, which is a move away from United the following year, but rather than emerge from the situation looking like the victim, he has very much come across as the villain in this situation.
Although the Portuguese forward's complaints about the recent state of the club in regards to their ownership were warranted, the timing of the interview as well as the platform that he chose to air them on both worked to undermine the content of what was said.
First and foremost, however, his criticism of Ten Hag was embarrassingly directed in the wrong direction. The Dutchman does not have the same level of loyalty to the player that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did, and if there is any mistake that the Norwegian has made, it is that he indulged him for far too long in the first place. The Dutchman does not have the same level of loyalty to the player that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did.
Ten Hag should have moved the 37-year-old on when he had the chance at the beginning of the summer, but instead, he played it safe by trying to keep the key dressing room figure onside, a gesture of kindness that was quickly undermined by the forward. Ten Hag should have moved the 37-year-old on when he had the chance at the beginning of the summer.
The manager's decision to try to keep Ronaldo at the club came from the right place, but it was made with naiveté on his part. Ronaldo's future with the club was uncertain at the time. Since the beginning of the season, he has significantly grown into the role, and as a result, he is now making the risky decisions that he avoided making during the first few weeks on the job.
The Portugal national football team player claims he was shown disrespect by Ten Hag and that he was treated unfairly because he was forced out of the club. However, he conveniently omits the fact that he requested to leave the organization.
Ronaldo also glosses over the fact that he left the one and only pre-match he played in at halftime without the permission of the Dutch manager. Ronaldo also glosses over the fact that he refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham, leaving Old Trafford before the match was over once again.
In addition, he was critical of the manner in which the club dealt with his absence from preseason training over the summer. United refutes these claims, with sources saying that Ronaldo's camp expressed gratitude at the time for the manner in which the club, and chief executive Richard Arnold in particular, handled the situation. Meanwhile, Ten Hag publicly reiterated that the forward continued to be an important part of his plans.
Ironically, getting rid of Ronaldo is now one of the simplest decisions that can be made, despite the fact that Ten Hag is no longer going for the simple solutions. The situation of the forward within the club has become even more precarious as a result of the events of the past week, and a good number of those who previously had some degree of sympathy for him will no longer feel the same way.
United has delegated the decision regarding what to do with Ronaldo to the manager, which is another endorsement of their trust in them. When the Portuguese forward is finally axed, United's power will grow even more as there will no longer be a key voice in the locker room speaking out against him.
Ronaldo has completely misread the room in his attempt to undermine the manager. As a result, he has not only tarnished his legendary legacy at the club but has also brought the United supporters together in support of Ten Hag.
There is a widespread agreement that there is a need for change, but most people also acknowledge that it will take some time to implement those changes. Under the guidance of Ten Hag, United has displayed consistent signs of advancement this season; however, the club will never have a chance to realize their full potential as long as its members lack the patience to match.
Ronaldo has played his last game for Manchester United, and his departure should only serve to further the club's goals and aspirations.
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