Ten Hag 'slept well' after dropping Ronaldo from Man Utd team

Suraj Radia

• 5 Mar 2023 02:29 CST
• 2 min read

Erik ten Hag has insisted he has no regrets over how he handled Cristiano Ronaldo’s exit as Manchester United prepare to renew their rivalry over Liverpool this weekend.

United’s reverse fixture against the Reds came in the third game of the season on the back of Ten Hag losing his first two matches against Brighton and Brentford.

Ten Hag secured his first win as United boss in that game after dropping Ronaldo from the starting line-up, a decision which marked the beginning of the end of the forward’s career at Old Trafford.

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Reflecting on the decision about Ronaldo, Ten Hag claimed he ‘slept well’ after making the call, despite being aware of the potential repercussions of dropping his star player.

“I do consider big decisions like that, definitely," Ten Hag said. “I have to look at the impact they make, not only in the short term but also for the longer term.

“You always have to think strategically as a manager and face the consequences. I am aware of it but that is my job and my responsibility.

“I had reasons to choose that team against Liverpool. They were obvious. And I knew the reaction if it had been a negative outcome, which is always possible in football.

‘But I am not worrying. I sleep well also in those nights. I have to take the decisions in respect of the club and the team. I have to stand by those decisions.”

Ronaldo failed to re-establish himself under Ten Hag following the decision and he eventually left United in December by mutual consent before joining Saudi side Al-Nassr.

Ten Hag: United had no discipline when I arrived

Ten Hag also admitted that a lack of discipline in the squad was ‘obvious’ upon his arrival and hinted that the decision to drop Ronaldo was necessary in order to instil structure into his new side.

‘There was and I don’t have to lie about it,’ he says. ‘Top players like structure, not only on the pitch. So you need some rules.

‘I think it’s obvious in every organisation that when there are no rules and no discipline in taking those rules seriously, then you create a mess.

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‘That’s not only at a football club but in every job, also in broadcasting or newspapers. It was quite obvious because I could see on the pitch what was going on.

United travel to Anfield on Sunday a week after winning their first trophy under Ten Hag and their first honour in six years following their EFL Cup success against Newcastle.