Erik ten Hag has no time for ill-discipline
Erik ten Hag would “do anything” to protect the team – and he once made a player sign a termination clause in case he showed up to training late.
Manchester United’s superstar Cristiano Ronaldo might have something to learn from former Utrecht defender Kevin Conboy, who revealed a team-mate drew the wrath of Ten Hag in the Netherlands. Ronaldo was once again thrust into the limelight on Wednesday evening.
The 37-year-old was spotted walking down the tunnel and out of Old Trafford before the full-time whistle had sounded. And Daily Star Sport has revealed that he now could be facing a £1million fine with Ten Hag set to dock two weeks’ wages.
Ten Hag is said to be furious with Ronaldo, and the Dutchman is losing patience with the wantaway star.
The Dutchman is a stickler for discipline – and it’s been a trait that’s followed him around throughout his managerial career, just ask Conboy. Speaking to Daily Star Sport earlier this year, Conboy said: “He would do anything to protect the team.
“At the time [at Utrecht], maybe we had 25 players and the staff. And he said, ‘let’s say we have a balloon, everyone on the outside is trying to poke it and say ‘this is not good enough’ or find holes.’
“I’m not going to mention the name, but we had a player who lived 30 or 40 minutes away from the training ground,” Conboy begins. “He was late one day, and Erik said, ‘this is never going to happen again.’
“Then he came in late one morning one more time, maybe five minutes. Maybe in Dutch terms, compared to the Premier League, this is nothing. But he received a €1,000 fine, or thereabouts.
“The third time, he had to go to the director’s office and sign a contract that said if he was ever late again, ‘you can just terminate my contract.’ He gives a lot, but he demands a lot. You don’t step outside.”
en Hag was quick to bring the hammer down on Ronaldo, and the club released a statement on Thursday evening.
It read: “Cristiano will not be part of the Manchester United squad for this Saturday’s game against Chelsea. The rest of the squad is fully focused on preparing for that fixture.”
[Source: dailystar.co.uk]