By Abimbola Ogunnaike
Manchester United of England Manager, Erik Ten Hag, has opened up that he has been sleeping very well since axing Cristiano Ronaldo from the team, and the club has been on the rise again.
He said he found himself in a big ‘mess’ when he arrived at Man United and how huge the decision to axe the No 7 changed the course of their campaign.
Indeed, when Ten Hag’s final Manchester United story is told, his first game against Liverpool last August will be regarded as career-defining.
Embarrassed by defeats against Brighton and Brentford, the Dutchman made the bold and some thought brazen move to drop Ronaldo and captain Harry Maguire.
United fans turned up at Old Trafford fearing a serious beating from Jurgen Klopp’s team. Instead, United won 2-1 with a brand of thrilling counter-attacking football spearheaded by Marcus Rashford.
“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 was aware of the long-term repercussions of axing Ronaldo, and that he slept well having made the call.
“I do consider big decisions like that, definitely,” he says.
“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”.
Ten Hag has preferred not to look back to the night he proved a manager capable of making the big decisions. It did indeed represent the beginning of the end for five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo, who eventually left for Saudi Arabia. With his departure, United have been revitalised by other leaders: Bruno Fernandes, Rashford and particularly Casemiro among them.
Few days ago Manchester United beat Newcastle in a Carabao Cup final- United’s first trophy for six years, and the prospect of three more, on an unbeaten run of 11 matches in all competition as at the time of publishing this report.
When Ten Hag joined United last summer, he entered a dressing room in which discipline had broken down, a result of having three different managers, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Michael Carrick and Ralf Rangnick, last season.
Source: Daily Mail.
