Ron with the wind: Ronaldo sorry but left out of Man United squad
Cristiano Ronaldo suggested the “heat of the moment” got to him when walking out on Manchester United’s 2-0 English Premier League win against Tottenham.
The Portugal international responded yesterday after being omitted from United’s squad for a match against Chelsea tomorrow and made to train away from the first team.
“I’ve always tried to set the example myself for the youngsters that grew in all the teams that I’ve represented,” Ronaldo wrote on Instagram. “Unfortunately that’s not always possible and sometimes the heat of the moment [gets] the best of us.”
United confirmed the 37-year-old striker would be left out of the Premier League game at Stamford Bridge after manager Erik ten Hag said he would “deal with” the player for heading off to the changing room before the final whistle against Spurs.
“Cristiano will not be part of the Manchester United squad against Chelsea,” United said in a statement yesterday. “The rest of the squad is fully focused on preparing for that fixture.”
Ronaldo will train away from the first team until after the Chelsea match.
United would not comment on reports Ronaldo refused to come on as a late substitute.
The manager has a regularly scheduled pre-game press conference today.
Ronaldo did not make specific reference to his actions but appeared remorseful in his public statement.
“Giving in to the pressure is not an option,” he wrote. “It never was. This is Manchester United, and united we must stand.”
Ronaldo also wrote that he’s always respected his teammates, opponents and coaches during his long career, and “respect has always played a very important role in my decision making process.”
Ten Hag has proved himself a strict disciplinarian in his short time at United — cancelling his team’s day off after the 4-0 defeat to Brentford in August, while he was also critical of Ronaldo and other players for leaving a preseason friendly against Rayo Vallecano early in July.
● Arsenal secured a spot in the Europa League knockout round after Granit Xhaka’s second-half goal was enough to earn a 1-0 win over PSV Eindhoven yesterday that maintained the Gunners’ perfect record in the competition.
Xhaka’s well-struck volley in the 71st minute was the breakthrough Arsenal sought after failing to convert chances thanks to a combination of wasteful finishing and good saves from goalkeeper Walter Benitez.
Arsenal are assured of one of the top two spots in Group A with a maximum 12 points from four games — and two rounds left to play. Second-place PSV have seven points.
The match was originally scheduled to be played last month but was postponed in the wake of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, with Arsenal’s Premier League game against Manchester City pushed back to make room for this game — the only European match played yesterday.
Arsenal, who have now won 13 of 14 matches in all competitions this season, controlled most of the game but struggled to create quality chances in the first half.
Benitez then frustrated the hosts in the second half, first saving a toe-poked effort from Bukayo Saka on a quick counterattack and then getting down low to palm away a left-footed shot from Gabriel Jesus from the edge of the area.
Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner, meanwhile, didn’t have a save to make until the 68th minute, when he collected a low shot from Xavi Simons from the right side of the area.
Xhaka then broke the deadlock.
Sometimes the heat of the moment [gets] the best of us.
Cristiano Ronaldo