Former England striker and talkSPORT host Carlton Cole has been suitably impressed with how Erik ten Hag has dealt with removing the all-time prima donna from his Manchester United starting line-up.<\/p>\n
Five-time Champions League winner Cristiano Ronaldo had presumptuously missed United\u2019s pre-season due to \u2018family issues\u2019 and followed this up with a summer of clock-and-dagger transfer speculation, which finally amounted to zilch.<\/p>\n
After reports his agent had held talks with Bayern Munich, Chelsea and a host of Europe\u2019s top flight clubs to try and secure a return to the European top tier competition, the 37-year-old had the door slammed shut in his face and finally ended up staying at Old Trafford with a whimper, coming back in time for an opening day loss to Brighton.<\/p>\n
Fielded yet again for the match against Brentford \u2013 which they went down to in a humiliating 4-0 away defeat \u2013 the Portugal skipper has since been put on the bench, while United went on to rack up a four-game winning streak as vindication of Ten Hag\u2019s early work.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way that he\u2019s conducted himself with the Ronaldo situation has been top,\u201d Cole said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt sends a great message to the other lads to say \u2018listen if you want to be in my team you\u2019ve got to play by the rules\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t just be coming in here throwing your weight around, we know you\u2019re Ronaldo, we know you\u2019ve got a big name.<\/p>\n
Ronaldo had looked set for a move away from Old Trafford but it was all puffed up hot air in the end.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not just on Ronaldo\u00a0by the way, but if you\u2019re going for the top dog and make an example and try and lead by example you\u2019re going to have to go for Ronaldo.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s the main guy, he didn\u2019t come to training the whole of the pre-season, that didn\u2019t show a bond, so put him on the bench.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been brilliant, that\u2019s what you want, to be treated fairly, imagine if any of those other players didn\u2019t turn up for pre-season, no matter what the circumstances you wouldn\u2019t be playing.<\/p>\n
\u201cRonaldo has had to bide his time as well, he\u2019s going to try and get in and fight for his place and there\u2019s been a hoo-ha about him leaving but it hasn\u2019t happened, so he\u2019s got to fight for his place with the World Cup coming up.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s high time the prima donnas of the football world realize it\u2019s not about their blown-up egos but the players and the manager as a unified team working together for the common good of the club.<\/p>\n
Well done, Erik ten Hag. You most certainly are a sight for sore eyes!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"