Cristiano Ronaldo WILL return to the Man United squad for Thursday’s Europa League game with Sheriff, Erik ten Hag confirms, after star backed down in his battle of wills with the manager having been dropped
- Cristiano Ronaldo will be involved in Man United’s game on Thursday night
- They take on Moldovan team Sheriff Tiraspol in Europa League at Old Trafford
- Erik ten Hag dropped Ronaldo after he left the ground early in Tottenham win
- 37-year-old missed their 1-1 draw at Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday
- But he returned to team training on Tuesday after talks with the manager
- Ten Hag wanted Ronaldo to appreciate he had been in the wrong
Erik ten Hag has drawn a line under his fall-out with Cristiano Ronaldo after confirming the Manchester United star is back in the squad to face Sheriff Tiraspol in the Europa League on Thursday night.
Ronaldo returned to first-team training on Tuesday having been axed from the squad for Saturday’s draw at Chelsea and told to work on his own at the club’s Carrington training base.
The punishment was meted out by Ten Hag after the 37-year-old refused to come on as a substitute in last week’s win over Tottenham and then left Old Trafford before full-time.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who returned to team training on Tuesday, will be in Manchester United’s squad for their Europa League game against Sheriff Tiraspol on Thursday night
Ronaldo had been banished from the first-team picture after his Old Trafford walkout last week
Ronaldo refused to come on and left Old Trafford before full-time in the 2-0 win over Spurs
The United boss recalled Ronaldo after being satisfied the player accepts his actions were wrong during talks between the two men.
But Ten Hag was keen to put the issue to bed and move on after confirming that Ronaldo is available for selection against Sheriff at Old Trafford on Thursday. There is a good chance he will start with Anthony Martial still not fit to play after a back injury.
‘Yes, Cristiano will be in the squad tomorrow,’ said the Dutchman. ‘It’s not difficult. But I think we said everything and we answered all the questions. He was out for one game and is back in the squad as usual.
‘You don’t have to do it (ask any more) because we will not answer any more. I think we explained everything and we have to focus on the game tomorrow. We have an important game because we want to be No.1 in the group.
‘It’s done, he’s back, focus on the game, what’s important is that Cristiano is involved in the squad tomorrow.’
United only require a point to be sure of reaching the knockout stage, but are likely to need to win to keep alive their hopes of beating Real Sociedad to first place in Group E and going straight into the last 16.
Erik ten Hag will feel his authority has been enhanced after Ronaldo fell back into line
