Bruno Fernandes’ shocking Man Utd confession puts Cristiano Ronaldo in a worse light
Robin Bairner
- 21 Jul 2022 07:48 BST
- 3 min read
Manchester United playmaker Bruno Fernandes admission that the players lacked discipline before the arrival of Erik ten Hag from Ajax is one that places wantaway forward Cristiano Ronaldo in a poorer light.
FootballTransfers understands that one of the reasons that Ronaldo wants to leave Man Utd is because standards in the dressing room had slipped to such an alarming degree, but while Ten Hag has taken steps to remedy this problem, the Portugal international has failed to show for pre-season training and has not taken part in the tour to Thailand and Australia.
Although Ronaldo continues to train alone, his solo approach is hardly conducive to giving the new manager the air of authority that Bruno says he is trying to instil in a squad that previously lacked regulation.
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“We missed that for a while and discipline is important,” Fernandes said. “Discipline is not only the way you play, the position that you have, what you have to do; it's also off the pitch.
“Don't be late for the meetings. Don't be late for the meals. That's really important, because if everyone is on time and someone comes late, he should be punished.
“That's really good that he's fining players for being late and amazing, because I like to be on time, so I won't have problems with that.”
Ten Hag has laid down strict laws for his Man Utd squad as he attempts to turn what Fernandes hints was a rabble into a trophy-winning unit.
Ronaldo undermining Ten Hag
Ronaldo’s no-show, which is officially due to family issues, is therefore serving to undermine what the new manager is trying to achieve, despite the player having no direct problem with Ten Hag. It’s not about a small matter like showing for breakfast on time, it’s about something more fundamental to the club.
Indeed, it is an action that backs up what Piers Morgan claimed when he said Ronaldo had mentally checked out of Man Utd and is lining up his future elsewhere. A lack of realistic alternative clubs, though, counts against him finding a new team.
And he is not necessarily welcome back at Man Utd, having shown his contempt towards the club very openly. As transfer expert Ben Jacobs told FootballTransfers earlier this week “getting Ronaldo back is not good for the mood and it casts a shadow over the beginning of the Erik ten Hag era”.
It is ironic that one of the all-time great professionals in Ronaldo has been the man to undermine the beginning of a more disciplined Ten Hag era at Manchester United, but that is just what has happened.
