Cristiano Ronaldo has released a statement after being dropped from the Manchester United squad for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Chelsea.
The 37-year-old was an unused substitute as United defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 at Old Trafford on Wednesday night, due to goals from Fred and Bruno Fernandes.
Ronaldo, who made a disgruntled figure on the bench, chose to walk down the tunnel at the end stages of the game, and he is said to have departed the stadium before the final whistle.
However, United head coach Erik ten Hag said right after the game that he will ‘deal with the incident,’ and United confirmed on Thursday that Ronaldo had been dropped from the first-team squad to face Chelsea on Saturday.
A brief statement on their official website read: “Cristiano Ronaldo will not be part of the Manchester United squad for this Saturday’s Premier League game against Chelsea. The rest of the squad is fully focused on preparing for that fixture.”
What Did Ronaldo Say In His Statement?
Ronaldo has subsequently taken to social media to respond to his exclusion from the Manchester United first-team squad, claiming that “the heat of the moment gets the best of us.”
“As I’ve always done throughout my career, I try to live and play respectfully towards my colleagues, my adversaries and my coaches. That hasn’t changed. I haven’t changed.
“I’m the same person and the same professional that I’ve been for the last 20 years playing elite football, and respect has always played a very important role in my decision making process.
“I started very young, the older and most experienced players examples were always very important to me. Therefore, later on, I’ve always tried to set the example myself for the youngsters that grew in all the teams that I’ve represented. Unfortunately that’s not always possible and sometimes the heat of the moment gets the best of us.
“Right now, I just feel that I have to keep working hard in Carrington, support my teammates and be ready for everything in any given game. Giving in to the pressure is not an option. It never was. This is Manchester United, and united we must stand. Soon we’ll be together again.”
See Also: Steven Gerrard Sacked As Aston Villa Manager
Has Ronaldo Been Dropped From Man United Squad?
According to The Mirror, Ronaldo has been suspended from first-team training for the next three days and has been fined £1m for his actions.
However, Ronaldo’s long-term future at Old Trafford is unknown, and it’s unclear whether he’s even played his final game for the club.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has failed to break into Ten Hag’s starting lineup this season, starting only six of his 12 matches in all competitions and scoring only twice.
Marcus Rashford was picked over the Portuguese star to lead the line against Tottenham, and the England international is poised to start against Chelsea on Saturday.
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