The administration at Manchester United probably believed that this week would be the least eventful of the entire campaign. After the conclusion of the first stage of the Premier League season, the players dispersed in a variety of directions, with the majority heading to Qatar while others went on vacation. It was the stillness before the storm began to rage once more.
But the club's key decision-makers will not get the restful week they had hoped for, during which they could take stock of the situation and revitalize themselves. Instead, their highest-paid player has been throwing grenades at Joel Glazer, Richard Arnold, John Murtough, and Erik ten Hag, and they have had to learn to deal with it.
The fact that Cristiano Ronaldo gave an interview to Piers Morgan in bits and pieces has not made life any simpler. Clips are being released each night, and although United are disputing the version of certain events that the 37-year-old is presenting, they are waiting to pass judgment until the full content has been broadcast tonight and tomorrow.
They are aware of one thing, however, and that is the fact that it will not be placed in the "easy listening" category. Although, in all honesty, not many of the clips reflect well on Ronaldo, neither of the ones that have been released so far reflect favorably on the club. United found out about the bombshell revelation that the forward had spoken to Morgan on Sunday night, not long after their thrilling late win at Fulham.
When Sunday night's clock struck 10 o'clock, it was abundantly clear what the upcoming week would bring. Ronaldo stated that he had no respect for Ten Hag and accused United of betraying him. Ronaldo also stated that United had betrayed him. On Monday, the club was forced to contact the owner in order to discuss the situation with the chief executive Arnold, the football director Murtough, and the manager Ten Hag.
The club is also consulting with their general counsel in order to obtain legal advice, but it is difficult to speculate on what will happen next. There is a widespread belief that it is impossible for Ronaldo to play for the club ever again; however, can Manchester United terminate his contract, or do they need to come to an agreement to rip up the final six months of that deal? If this is the case, they must decide whether to try to sell him in January or demote him to the Under-21 team if, similar to what occurred in the summer, there is no interest from Europe's top teams.
The fact that Ronaldo is currently competing in the World Cup in Qatar adds another layer of complication to the situation. Before taking any kind of disciplinary action, does United need to consult with the forward first? If that is the case, it is highly unlikely that he will be back at Carrington for another month. From the perspective of United, the timing of this event couldn't have been worse, but it's safe to assume Ronaldo was fully aware of the implications of his actions. Even so, the club doesn't want to engage in a public back-and-forth with one of the best players they've ever had because they want the player's departure to be handled in a dignified manner.
Ten Hag, on the other hand, won't be ignorant to the significance of the interview's timing. His remarks made shortly after the injury-time goal that won the game at Craven Cottage on Sunday feel even more illuminating in light of recent events.
The locker room, the staff, the directors, the entire club, and the supporters can all take pride in the fact that we have achieved unity and togetherness. There is a sense of togetherness, and I couldn't be happier with the way that dynamic has evolved "he explained to the broadcasters.
"I believe that we have a foundation. We are progressing in the appropriate manner. I believe that the culture, the attitude, and the mentality have all shifted, and this is a positive development. I also believe that we are improving our base for football. The fact that we were able to pull out the victory in the nick of time at the end of the game exemplifies the improved mentality that our team possesses, as evidenced by today's game."
The victories against Aston Villa and Fulham were achieved without Ronaldo, who cited illness as the reason for his absence in the week leading up to a World Cup that will be defining for his legacy and what is left of his career.
Throughout the course of this season, Ten Hag has made repeated references to the importance of having a strong team spirit, and it has been clear that it is growing on the pitch. The events that took place in front of the opposing team's end on Sunday provided evidence of this.
Despite Ronaldo's presence at Carrington, the overall morale of the team has been able to significantly improve. His relationship with Ten Hag has been strained, despite the fact that he can sometimes be seen as a buoyant presence on the training ground.
Then there was the major display of indiscipline against Tottenham, when he refused to come on as a substitute and left the ground early; this was a transgression for which United were perhaps too lenient, in hindsight; it was a misdemeanor that he committed against United. Ten Hag has had to walk a fine line between showing Ronaldo respect and protecting the team's morale by preventing Ronaldo from dampening the atmosphere in the locker room.
Although his standing among the team has diminished, which is to be expected given the circumstances, he continues to exert a significant amount of influence over a number of players. They would be in a much better position overall if he were not present at this time, and it is likely that Ten Hag has arrived at the same conclusion.
It was telling that within weeks of working with him, the new United manager began to shift his opinion on Ronaldo, going from wanting him as a key part of his squad to being open to the possibility that he would leave before the transfer window closed.
Now, the most important thing for him to do is to preserve the unity about which he spoke so enthusiastically on Sunday evening. As a result of Ronaldo's unauthorized interview, his manager, his teammates, and his club have all been embarrassed. There is no possibility of turning back now.
United may wish, from a financial point of view, that a buyer can be found in January; however, they are required to go with Ten Hag's instinct regarding this matter. If Ronaldo is to be removed from the team, it is imperative that this take place before the holiday season.
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