Erik ten Hag has confirmed Cristiano Ronaldo refused to come on as a late substitute against Tottenham before leaving early during Wednesday’s victory.
The Manchester United manager dropped Ronaldo for Saturday’s game against Chelsea as punishment for leaving a match early for the second time this football season.
In his pre-match press conference, Ten Hag said: “What (happened in) the talk is between Cristiano and me.
“I am the manager, I’m responsible for the top sport culture here and I have to set standards and values, and I have to control them. We are in a team.
“We’ll miss him tomorrow, it’s a miss for the squad but I think it’s important for the attitude, mentality for the group.”
Ten Hag reiterated that Ronaldo “remains an important part of the squad”, although the striker will train on his own on Friday.
“I think it will be a reflection for him and also for everyone else”, said Ten Hag on what he hoped Ronaldo’s punishment would achieve.
“I set a warning at the start of the season and the next time it has to be consequence. When you are living together, playing together, football is a team sport and you have to fulfil certain standards and I have to control it”.
