Manchester United vs Chelsea: Rio Ferdinand claims manager Erik ten Hag made mistake with Cristiano Ronaldo

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo will not play Saturday's Premier League clash between Manchester United and Chelsea at Stamford Bridge because the player refused to come as a substitute in Manchester United's win over Tottenham last week and left Old Trafford before the final whistle.

Coach Erik ten Hag suspended the 37-year-old player from Saturday's clash at Chelsea. He asked him to train with the Under-21s, describing that being a manager, he is responsible for setting the club's values and standards.

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Although Erik Ten Hag received praise for handling Ronaldo's recent act of defiance, former Manchester United footballer Rio Ferdinand claimed there has been a communication breakdown.

Ferdinand believes the situation should be communicated well to the player because players expect to play, score goals, and be relied upon. He mentioned that Ronaldo was not right in the situation, but the way it was tackled can make players reactive. Ferdinand added that not just Ronaldo but anyone could have reacted in this situation.

Rio Ferdinand has been criticized for defending Ronaldo's petulance. He believes there are always two sides to a story; if you stop communicating, problems increase, and here it has been the case.

Though Erik ten Hag has mentioned that Ronaldo's suspension from the squad is only for this weekend's match against Chelsea, he added that Ronaldo remains an essential player in the team.

FAQs

Will Cristiano Ronaldo play against Chelsea?
No. Cristiano Ronaldo is not a part of the squad to face Chelsea.

Why was Ronaldo removed from Manchester United?
Ronaldo refused to come as a substitute against Tottenham and walked down the tunnel before the final whistle.