Ronaldo adds fuel to fire with interview comments
Cristiano Ronaldo says he “doesn’t respect” Erik ten Hag and claims the Manchester United manager tried to force him out in the summer.
In an interview with broadcaster Piers Morgan, Ronaldo criticized ten Hag, the club and former interim boss Ralf Rangnick.
The 37-yearold was suspended by ten Hag after refusing to appear as a substitute during the 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in October.
Ronaldo (pictured) has missed United’s last two games because of illness despite ten Hag insisting last week the striker was likely to be available for the trip to Fulham, which the Dutchman’s side won 2-1 on Sunday.
“I don’t have respect for him (ten Hag) because he doesn’t show respect for me,” said Ronaldo in a fragment of the interview that will air in full on Wednesday on “Piers Morgan Uncensored.”
“If you don’t have respect for me, I’m never gonna have respect for you.”
They said it
“It’s not exactly the time we want to be playing in the World Cup,” said Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, about the first World Cup to be played in November and December rather than in June-July because of the desert nation’s searing heat in the summer. “We know the surroundings of the World Cup, what has been in the past few weeks, past few months, about the people that have died on the construction of the stadiums. We are not happy about that at all. We want football to be for everyone, everyone has to be included and involved in a World Cup because a World Cup is the world. It’s for everyone, it doesn’t matter who. But for a World Cup it’s more than football, it’s a party for fans, players, something that’s a joy to watch, (it) should be done in a better way.”
Christian Eriksen, who will play for Denmark in Qatar after recovering from suffering cardiac arrest during a game at last year’s European Championship, echoed Fernandes’ comments.
“I totally agree with Bruno. There is a lot of focus on it, how the World Cup has happened and why it is in Qatar. Everyone agrees it hasn’t been done in the right way,” teammate Eriksen said. “We are footballers, we play football — politics is about something above us to make that decision. Of course we try to say our thing and do what we can. We want to get focus on it, but the change has to come from somewhere else.”
Trivia question
Man U holds the record for the most Premier League titles with 13, and the highest number of English top-flight titles with 20.
Which team has won the second-most EPL titles?
Glove brings $1.5M
A baseball glove worn by Babe Ruth during his glory days with the New York Yankees sold for over $1.5 million at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory auction on Saturday. The winning bidder wasn’t identified. Hunt Auctions said the price of $1,527,500 was the highest ever paid for a glove.
The company said the glove dates to the Bambino’s time with the 1927 Yankees, considered one of the greatest teams in history. Hunt Auctions said Ruth gave the glove to Jimmy Austin, a longtime infielder with the St. Louis Browns, and that the mitt remained with Austin’s family.
Trivia answer
Liverpool won its 19th title in 2019-20. Manchester City has won four of the past five and has eight total.