Training ahead of travelling to Cyprus, 05.10.22
The bosses’ statements:
🗣 Omonia Nicosia boss Neil Lennon: “I understand in the sense why he hasn’t been playing, but you can't keep him out [of the team] for long. Over the course of the season, Manchester United will need Cristiano Ronaldo. Once he hits his match fitness, then he could have another bumper season. The fact that he's going to be here in this stadium, and I'll get to see him again live and close up is fantastic because he's one of the greatest players of all-time, so it's very, very special."
🗣 Ten Hag: “That he’s not coming on when we are 4-0 down, 5-1 down, 6-1 down and I don’t bring him on out of respect. So, nothing to do with what’s happening for the future, what’s happening for January or next year. I don’t see he is unhappy, so he is happy. He is training well. He’s enjoying, I think everyone is training well. It’s a good spirit in the training. I never talk about my conversations with the players. They are between us. That’s quite clear. But when I tell you all the players, when you’re here and you’re happy, or satisfied, when you’re on the bench, this is not a club where you have to be, and especially Cristiano. He’s really competitive, as we all know. He’s not happy of course when he’s not playing. But I already said and, I have to repeat, he’s training well, he has a good mood, he’s motivated and he gives his best. That is what we expect.”
Remark: I do not believe Ten Hag when he says he benched Cristiano out of respect. Well, of course Ten Hag did well in not bringing him on at 4-0 down. But: why didn’t he start Cristiano?
