Erik ten Hag insists Cristiano Ronaldo ‘should not be the focus’ of Man United because his ENTIRE team was thrashed 4-0 by Brentford but insists the wantaway 37-year-old remains part of his plans ahead of Liverpool clash
- Cristiano Ronaldo should not be the focus of Man United, insists Erik ten Hag
- The Red Devils wantaway started against Brentford as United were thrashed 4-0
- Ten Hag urged it was down to ‘team performance’ and ‘the whole team’s attitude’
- He reinforced that Ronaldo is part of their plans against bitter rivals Liverpool
Erik ten Hag has insisted Cristiano Ronaldo should not be the focus at Manchester United at the moment following the disastrous 4-0 defeat by Brentford last weekend.
The Dutch boss has endured a catastrophic start to his first Premier League campaign, with Man United languishing at the bottom of the table after successive defeats to Brighton and the Bees.
Clearly frustrated by his team’s performances, Ten Hag was eager not to talk about individuals ahead of his crucial match against bitter rivals Liverpool on Monday.
Erik ten Hag has insisted Cristiano Ronaldo should not be the focus of Manchester United
‘I don’t why [Ronaldo] in particular is the focus after Saturday’, he said.
‘It was a team performance and the whole team’s attitude including Ronaldo.
‘He’s in our plans, that is what I can say.’
Ronaldo told the club he wanted to leave earlier this summer and missed most of pre-season, eager to exit Old Trafford for a team in the Champions League.
But it seems increasingly likely that the forward will remain in Manchester at least in the short-term, and he returned to the United starting line-up for the game at Brentford.
Ronaldo, who seemed to blank Ten Hag as he left the pitch after the dismal loss at Brentford, could be dropped to the bench for Monday, with Anthony Martial set to return from injury.
The Portuguese forward seemed to blank Ten Hag as he exited for the tunnel last weekend
The Red Devils boss has endured a tricky start to life at Old Trafford after back-to-back defeats
Ten Hag will be hoping to see a significant attitude adjustment among his players when United host Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Liverpool too have endured a winless start to their campaign, drawing 2-2 with Fulham on the opening weekend before rescuing a point against Crystal Palace in Monday’s 1-1 draw at Anfield.
Klopp has striker complications of his own following Darwin Nunez’s red card against the Eagles, who was dismissed for headbutting defender Joachim Andersen.
He faces Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool on Monday night with both sides in desperate need of a win
The Uruguayan will subsequently miss the clash at Old Trafford, as well as Liverpool’s games against Bournemouth and Newcastle.
Ten Hag insisted that he understood the importance of the derby and reinforced that United will be gunning for a win on Monday.
‘I know the rivalry,’ he said. ‘We are the rivals and we have to win every game, especially this game.’
