Ten Hag Challenges Ronaldo To Prove Himself Not To Be Parked On The Bench

Erik ten Hag (Instagram @manchesterunited)

JAKARTA - A challenge posed by Manchester United (MU) coach, Erik Ten Hag to Cristiano Ronaldo. Ten Hag asked Ronaldo to prove himself able to blend in with the squad so as not to be parked as a backup.

Quoted from the Manchester Evening News, Friday, this was revealed by Ten Hag because the coach realized that Ronaldo's chances of becoming a core player at the beginning of the season were relatively small. The reason is, Ronaldo has only strengthened Manchester United once in a pre-season match against Rayo Vallecano, that was only the first 45 minutes and immediately left Old Trafford before the game was over.

Moreover, the situation of the star is currently still hanging at Old Trafford. Ronaldo reportedly still has big ambitions to leave the club for the chance to play in the Champions League

With this situation, Ronaldo is predicted to have difficulty playing under the Ten Hag strategy. However, the Dutch coach still has confidence that Ronaldo can play under his tutelage as long as he is willing to work hard.

"I think he (Cristiano Ronaldo) can (be part of the plan). But he has to start getting fit again, he's just started (joining the team). He's a fantastic footballer, he's proven that so many times," Ten Hag told the Manchester Evening News.

"But you can always be judged on your current performance, what you show at the moment, your current performance. So the team, and Ronaldo himself, have to prove that," Ten Hag continued.

Manchester United will host Brighton in the first match of the 2022/2023 Premier League on Sunday, 7 August. In that match, Ten Hag was rumored to be backing up Ronaldo because it was considered that he had not yet reached the physical level of the match.