Manchester United are gearing up to take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge but unfortunately, the build-up to the game has been overshadowed by Cristiano Ronaldo’s precarious situation at the club.
Just over a year after completing a sensational return to Old Trafford, Ronaldo is now out of favour under Erik ten Hag and the 37-year-old let his feelings be known at the end of the 2-0 win over Tottenham earlier this week.
Ronaldo walked off the pitch with several minutes remaining and as a result, he has been banished from first-team training and also left out of the squad for tonight’s game against Chelsea.
Speaking ahead of the game, former United captain Roy Keane has now defended Ronaldo over the unfortunate row, arguing that other players have done worse.
🗣 "He's a human being, he's got flaws. Players have done a lot worse things at Man United."
Roy Keane has his say on Cristiano Ronaldo walking off and refusing to come onto the pitch against Tottenham pic.twitter.com/0WGI98EsOr
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) October 22, 2022
“Obviously, the manager’s made the decision to leave him out,” Keane told Football Daily, as seen above. “He’s disappointed that Ronaldo didn’t want to go on in the 87th, 88th minute, and the fact that he walked out of the tunnel, he’s obviously been punished for it.
“I try to see it from the player’s point of view, he’s obviously had enough, he’s lost the head. I think it’s been brewing for the last few weeks with Ronaldo.
“But I will still try and defend him. I still think he’s a human being, he’s got flaws, he’s frustrated that he’s not been getting opportunities and he’s had enough.
“He’s walked down the tunnel, I think players have done a lot of worse things at Man United, I think it happens. It’s human nature.”
It remains unclear whether Ronaldo will be back with the first-team squad by the time United welcome FC Sheriff to Old Trafford on Thursday but as things stand, Ten Hag is making it work without him.
