Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag has revealed the REAL reason why Cristiano Ronaldo was an unused substitute during his side’s 6-3 spanking at the Etihad on Sunday.
The Dutchman claims his decision to ‘rest’ Ronaldo was a cunning ploy to unleash the 5-time Ballon d’Or winner on European giants AC Omonia.
United fly out to play in the Europa League on Thursday evening hoping the 816-goal striker has what it takes to score against the Cypriot side.
‘I knew what I was doing all along’, Ten Hag told Paddy Power News, while tapping his finger against his bald bonce.
‘I didn’t want Cristiano to burn himself out during some pointless derby game in the Premier League’.
‘Now he will be fit and raring to go against the might of Omonia in the sh*t version of the Champions League’.
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Former Ajax boss Ten Hag views the Europa League as United’s best chance of silverware this season because Manchester City don’t play in that competition.
‘We cannot win the Premier League because City play in that. We cannot win the FA Cup either because City play in that’, explained the 52-year-old.
‘We cannot even win the League Cup because City reserves play in that’.
‘But we have a chance in the Europa League because the teams are sh*te. Most of them sound like realms of Middle-earth and Wi-Fi passwords.
MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM – SEPTEMBER 8: (L-R) Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United, Christian Eriksen of Manchester United during the UEFA Europa League match between Manchester United v Real Sociedad at the Old Trafford on September 8, 2022 in Manchester United Kingdom (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
However, Ten Hag refused to be drawn on whether Casemiro would join Ronaldo on the pitch at the GSP Stadium.
‘Just because you’ve won the Champions League five times; have 65 caps for Brazil and the club spent £70m on you – doesn’t mean you’re good enough to start ahead of Scott McTominay’.
Meanwhile, Neil Lennon has rebuffed claims he took the AC Omonia job because he’s never gotten over leaving his beloved Celtic.
‘I don’t know where people are getting this from’, a furious Lennon told Paddy Power News.
‘Apart from the green and white hooped kit; the wee Shamrock in their badge and the fact they play in a sh*te league – I don’t see any similarities with Celtic at all’.
*Paddy Power’s breaking news coverage is just complete nonsense, every word of it. Honest.
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