Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted regret over leaving before the final whistle in the preseason friendly against Rayo Vallecano.
Speaking to Piers Morgan, Ronaldo discussed his missed preseason and relationship with manager Erik ten Hag.
On leaving early against Rayo, he said: “Piers I will be honest with you, it’s something that I regret to left from the stadium. Probably, or maybe no, I don’t know. It’s difficult to tell you 100% but let’s say I regret, but in the same way I felt provoked by the coach.
“Not allowed for me, a coach to put me in three minutes in a game. Sorry, I’m not that kind of player. I know what I can give to the teams.”
“Me and 8 players, but they mentioned only my name…everyone do that.
“Last year, many players did the same. In that game eight players do the same but they only speak about the black sheep which is me, which is, I completely understand, okay, it’s done, I apologise to the coach and for me, the chapter was closed.”
He continued: “The feeling he always mentioned to me, that I didn’t need the pre-season so I should wait for my opportunity. I really understand that should, well, okay, I understand.
“But I’m not going to give you points, but you don’t do it the same procedure to every players. I’m not gonna mention players but they don’t do it the same way.
“Second, I understand that becoming a new job, Manchester was so bad the last five years that it should make they should clean the house, let’s say in that way.
“But the way they approach, the way the press make this so big, it’s because… probably the communication wasn’t the best. But I really understand in the beginning because I didn’t do the pre-season, I don’t start to play, but going more further than that, further than that.
“Other things happen that people they don’t know. And I’m not hiding that the empathy with the coach is not good. I’m honest.
“He don’t respect the way I should deserve. But it is what it is. This is why probably, the game against Tottenham, I left.”
Ronaldo was also asked about not playing against Manchester City, when Ten Hag left him on the bench.
“Excuses, I see as excuses. I saw many things that I don’t want to criticise him [for]. He can have different opinions to me. They choose the players that they think are better for the team. I respect that.
“But excuses all the time, you know; the excuses have short legs and you cannot excuse all the time, which is things that don’t make sense.
“Okay, you don’t put me [on] against Manchester City because of respect of my career and you want to put me [on for] three minutes against Tottenham. It doesn’t make sense.
“I think he did it on purpose because, for example, in a national team and [at] the other clubs, if the coach wants to put me [on for] five minutes, if someone was injured or if they really needed me, I will help.
“But in that way I felt provoked not only because of that game, but before.”
