Cristiano Ronaldo’s sister has slammed Erik ten Hag for substituting the attacker in Manchester United’s 0-0 draw with Newcastle United on Sunday.
The Potuguese star had a goal ruled out in the second half after he felt Fabian Schar had taken Newcastle’s free kick instead of giving the ball to goalkeeper Nick Pope.
Ronaldo was handed only his second start in the Premier League this campaign for the game against Newcastle and was replaced in the 72nd minute by Rashford, who missed a wonderful chance to win the game late on.
Ronaldo looked unimpressed when he saw his number held up and repeatedly shook his head as he made his way towards the touchline.
After the game, Ronaldo’s sister Elma Aveiro shared a post from a Portuguese football account which revealed Ten Hag’s reason why the player was substituted along with the message: ‘If it continues like this, Ten Hag won’t last until January.’
But above a picture the post, Elma Aveiro wrote: ‘It’s too late.’
Speaking ahead of United’s game with Tottenham on Wednesday, Ten Hag said of Ronaldo’s reaction: ‘I think no player is happy when they get off and especially not Ronaldo.
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‘As long as it is in quite a normal way no problem with that.’
Ten Hag also defended his United stars after the club were charged by the Football Association for their reaction towards referee Craig Pawson after he disallowed Ronaldo’s goal.
‘I don’t think it was too strong but I don’t know what’s happening exactly on the pitch as it’s too far away for me on the pitch,’ said Ten Hag.
‘I’ve seen the video, there was a touch from the player from Newcastle that’s quite clear and they wanted to point that to the referee.
‘First of all, I want to express we always accept the referees’ decision but it’s also quite normal to ask why in the moment, it was a curious incident, you ask as a team why. But finally and quite clear you have to accept it. Then you have to move on.
‘You are right we are example for amateurs and youth, quite clear. We have to know our role but it’s also about professional football so when it’s a decision like this, and it was quite obvious a player touched the ball from Newcastle, our players took advantage of it to ask why.’
