Manchester United coach defends Cristiano Ronaldo
Manchester United interim coach Ralph Rangnick said Cristiano Ronaldo has not negatively affected his authority over the team after the Portuguese player's angry reaction to his substitution against Brentford in the Premier League last Wednesday.
The Portuguese striker was not satisfied with his replacement by fellow defender Harry Maguire in the 71st minute, as United won 3-1 against the newly arrived team in the top flight.
The coach defended Ronaldo against accusations from former players and in a number of English media that he controls the team, underestimates the new coach and does not respect his decisions, and that he feels "bigger than the team."
"I don't blame him for that, but obviously any coach would wish it wasn't too emotional," Rangnick told reporters ahead of today's game against West Ham United
. This is an emotional game, the players are emotional, and I don't take it personally at all.”
He added, “I don't see or translate that as challenging me. This is not the first time, if we look at the same moment when Alex (Ferguson) or any other coach replaced him, his reaction was exactly the same."
Ronaldo returned to United this season from Juventus, but he may miss the West Ham match due to a neck problem.
"He underwent treatment ... for two or three hours, and we will wait and see how his condition is," the United interim coach said.
United occupies seventh place with 35 points from 21 games, two points behind West Ham, fourth, but it has a game in hand.
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