Manchester United's tumultuous season took another dramatic turn as Cristiano Ronaldo was barred from entering the dressing room to retrieve his trainers, according to ESPN. The incident occurred after Ronaldo was ordered to train separately from the first team by manager Erik ten Hag.
The standoff ended when Ronaldo enlisted an academy player to fetch his trainers, highlighting the tension between the Portuguese superstar and the Dutch manager. This development comes amidst reports of Ten Hag's counterproductive training methods, which have left players exhausted and demotivated.
Sources close to the team revealed that Ten Hag's response to poor results was extra training, leading to fatigue and decreased performance. This approach has raised concerns among players and staff, questioning the manager's ability to motivate and manage his squad.
Meanwhile, Jadon Sancho's public fallout with Ten Hag has led to a four-month isolation from the team. Sancho was forced to train, eat, and change separately, sparking concerns about the manager's handling of the situation.
In other news, La Liga president Javier Tebas criticized Real Madrid for questioning France Football's Ballon d'Or system, labeling it "self-victimization" and "unnecessary humiliation." Real Madrid has since adopted a "law of silence" regarding the controversy.
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino praised Wes Fofana's resilience, calling him a "fighter" who played through pain. Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag personally gave Mason Mount the number 7 shirt, overriding Garnacho's request.
The Ballon d'Or controversy continues to simmer, with Chilean journalist Danilo Díaz revealing he omitted Vinicius and Bellingham from his vote due to their poor international performances.
Tags
Sports