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Man Utd’s Lisandro Martinez gives telling reaction to Cristiano Ronaldo storming down tunnel

Man Utd’s Lisandro Martinez gives a rather telling reaction to Cristiano Ronaldo storming down the tunnel in the win against Tottenham.

While having no idea that the club legend furiously ahead for the tunnel early, Martinez didn’t want the incident to take the shine off Manchester United’s 2-0 victory at Old Trafford.

Erik ten Hag’s side gave one of their best performances of the season and it could have been a lot more than two scored with Huge Lloris producing some outstanding saves to try and keep his side in it.

Two of which were to deny Marcus Rashford from getting his name on the scoresheet in the second half.

Man Utd went ahead just after half time when Fred’s deflected effort squeezed into the bottom corner of Lloris’ goal.

It was then 2-0 when Bruno Fernandes, who put in an standout display, curled home from just inside the box.

Then, rather annoyingly for United, a great night’s work was somewhat marred by Ronaldo’s antics yet again, as he stormed down the tunnel early – refusing to celebrate the result with his team-mates and fans after being kept on the bench by Ten Hag, who vowed to deal with the incident on Thursday.

Impressive centre-back Martinez didn’t seem bothered by Ronaldo’s tantrum as he focused on fine team performance and victory, suggesting the squad are growing tired of the Portugal international.

Martinez told Viaplay: “I didn’t see anything. I don’t know. I only enjoy with the people, we won, and that’s important.”

That was the motto for the majority of the United players, who instead wanted to soak in the incredibly loud atmosphere after such a good effort that showcased their top-four hopes.

If United are able to play like that regularly at home, Old Trafford has the potential to become a fortress again and they might just be on course to getting back to being their best, something we haven’t seen in years.

Erik ten Hag says he will “deal with” Cristiano Ronaldo.

Asked whether Ronaldo had spoke to him before walking down the tunnel before the completion of the match, United boss Ten Hag told Amazon Prime: “He was there, I have seen him, but I didn’t speak with him.”

In his post-match press conference, Ten Hag added: “I don’t pay attention to that, I will deal with that tomorrow. I want to keep the focus on the team.

“It was magnificent from all 11 players. I have to correct myself. It was also a performance from the substitutes who came on. Once again, it was a squad performance. I think what we have seen is 11 players who defend and 11 who attack. I was pleased.”

Sky Sports football journalist Jack Wilkinson: Cristiano Ronaldo has a habit of grabbing the headlines, but not even his sulking departure could detract from another encouraging stride in the right direction taken by Erik ten Hag’s players.

Ronaldo, an unused substitute, was unhappy with the watching brief he was handed as goals from Fred and Bruno Fernandes earned a deserved 2-0 victory over Tottenham, but when United perform to such a high level his frustrations are baseless.

From start to finish, United took a poor Spurs side to task, demonstrating their continued adaptation to Ten Hag’s methods with an attacking display as comprehensive as any seen at Old Trafford in memory, let alone since the Dutchman took charge.

United’s 28 attempts on goal was the most by any side in a Premier League match this season, the most Antonio Conte had ever conceded in his top-flight managerial career, and had it not been for the heroics of Hugo Lloris, the scoreline would have been just as emphatic.

With Ronaldo on the bench against Liverpool, Arsenal and now Spurs, games United have won with increasing proficiency, it’s clear the club’s transition to life without him is already underway. His petulance will only speed that up.

Danny Mills said Ronaldo’s behaviour was reprehensible if true.

“If Ronaldo has done that, it’s an absolute disgrace,” Mills told Soccer Special. “That’s disrespectful to the team, the manager, the fans.

“They are winning 2-0 – what complaint can he have? If they were losing 2-0, it wouldn’t be right, but I would sort of understand it.

“He clearly thinks he’s bigger than the football club… It’s a selfish act after not being involved.

“He knows full well that everybody is going to see him walk all the way down the touchline at Old Trafford, it’s not like he can sneak out.

“I feel sorry for United and Ten Hag because it’s all going to be about Ronaldo instead of an outstanding performance against a top side.”

However, Roy Keane offered a differing view on Ronaldo’s situation when speaking on Sky Sports in the wake of United’s 6-3 thrashing at the hands of Manchester City earlier this month.

After Ronaldo had once again been left on the bench – with Ten Hag saying he made the decision “out of respect” – Keane said: “I think United are showing disrespect to Ronaldo. He should have been let go before the transfer window.

“The manager kept him. OK, he said he wanted options. But you don’t keep Ronaldo to sit on the bench. He is one of the greatest players ever.

“He had options [to move in the summer]. This idea he didn’t have options is rubbish. He had four or five good options.

“The big picture is that Ten Hag is not going to play Ronaldo. It is just going to get uglier as the season goes on.

“United have shown nothing but disrespect to Ronaldo.”

Jamie O’Hara tweeted: “Poor from Ronaldo have your day 03717223344 you canā€™t walk down the tunnel when thereā€™s 5 minutes left, lack of respect for the rest of his team mates”

O’Hara on talkSPORT: ā€œIt’s a disgrace the best performance of the season so far and Ronaldo walks off down the tunnelā€¦It’s disrespectful to his team-mates.ā€

Jason Cundy has torn into Ronaldo for his behaviour tonight by storming down the Old Trafford tunnel before the end of the game.

He told talkSPORT: ā€œItā€™s all for show.

ā€œThatā€™s why I wouldnā€™t take Ronaldo [at Chelsea]. The baggage. He is a brilliant footballer and he will score goals but thatā€™s the reason.

ā€œTen Hag has still got a problem with him, and January canā€™t come quick enough for Ten Hag to move him on. He wants to move on, thereā€™s petulance.

ā€œAnd what does that do to other players? No doubt heā€™s a brilliant influence in the dressing room, but the petulance shown like that in public thatā€™s not on, thatā€™s not fair. Imagine if youā€™re a young player looking up to Ronaldo and he does that.

ā€œFor Ronaldo to do that during the game, itā€™s slapping Ten Hag round the face. Heā€™s questioning his authority. Publicly heā€™s given the manager a little *tsh* round the chops.ā€

Patrice Evra on Amazon Prime: ā€œEveryone is different. I want to focus on the United performance, thatā€™s not to protect Cristiano.

ā€œWe donā€™t know if he said to Ten Hag he was going in, and weā€™re trying to make a story of him walking in. Maybe he said to Ten Hag heā€™s going inside for some treatment.

ā€œI donā€™t want to find [an] excuse; I want focus on the performance of United. We have to stop talking everyday about Cristiano.ā€

Alan Shearer on Amazon Prime: ā€œI understand Cristiano Ronaldo’s frustration but look at the bigger picture and the team put in a really good performance. The manager had a big call to make and it turned out to be the right decision.

ā€œIt is a difficult situation, we are talking about best player in the word, the best player we have ever seen. It is tough but makes things difficult for the manager.ā€

Thierry Henry added: ā€œA job Erik ten Hag has to deal with. But there was a game, a magnificent game, the story should not be Ronaldo walking off.ā€

Gary Lineker said Ronaldo’s behaviour unnecessarily took attention from United’s performance against Spurs.

“I’m sorry, that is unacceptable – it is so poor,” Lineker said on Wednesday’s Match of the Day.

Pundits Ashley Williams and Micah Richards agreed with Lineker.

“For one of the greats of the game to do that when your team are winning, making it about him, is disappointing,” said former England defender Richards.

Ex-Wales captain Williams added: “It was a great night for Manchester United and here we are again talking about Cristiano Ronaldo – even though he didn’t play.”

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel said Ronaldo would have been aware such behaviour would create “headlines”.

“It’s the first time I can say that I am disappointed with him. Normally I back him, I understand his situation,” Schmeichel said.

“We are in transition. Manchester United are now five managers down the road since Alex Ferguson,” he added. “We have got Erik ten Hag in now who has very clear ideas about the way he wants to play football. We need understanding and time from everyone.

“We don’t need distractions like that, and that’s a disappointment, I would say.”

ā€œIf it wasnā€™t Ronaldo, I would be tempted to ask: ā€˜Can we let him go now?!ā€™

Neil Warnock said on talkSPORT: ā€œI wouldnā€™t have spoken to him after. I would say to Ronaldo to come in at 10am! That would ruin his day off.ā€

Player ratings

Man Utd: De Gea (7), Dalot (8), Varane (8), Martinez (9), Shaw (8), Casemiro (8), Fred (9), Fernandes (9), Antony (9), Rashford (7), Sancho (7).

Subs:Ā McTominay (n/a), Elanga (n/a), Eriksen (n/a).

Tottenham:Ā Lloris (9), Doherty (5), Romero (6), Dier (5), Davies (5), Perisic (5), Bissouma (5), Hojbjerg (6), Bentancur (6), Son (5), Kane (6).

Subs:Ā Sanchez (n/a), Sessegnon (n/a), Moura (n/a), Skipp (n/a), Spence (n/a).

Player of the match:Ā Fred.

“You can lose this type of game but at the same time we have to show much more,” said Spurs boss Antoino Conte afterwards. “I think we can do much more than today. We have to be honest and say United deserved to win, they started well and created chances to score. Instead, on our side, we didn’t start the game. It was really difficult also because we made a lot of simple mistakes.

“I have to be honest, this was not the first time for us this season. The table is good but every time we play a high-level game we struggle. Against Chelsea we drew, but we have to be honest. Against Arsenal we lost. Today against United we lost. For sure, when the level is high we are going to struggle. This means we have to continue to work to improve.

“Sometimes I hear we are title contenders. I think we need time. In 11 months you cannot pass from ninth place to a year later title contenders.”

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