Former Premier League manager Tim Sherwood has blasted Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag for his recent comments surrounding handing Cristiano Ronaldo the armband away at Aston Villa.
The 37-year-old has struggled at United this term, but was offered a chance to force his way back into Ten Hag's plans on Sunday afternoon having been given the role of captain at Villa Park. Things didn't exactly go out to plan, with the hosts inflicting a 3-1 defeat on United and Ronaldo having minimal impact on proceedings.
After the game, Ten Hag made some interesting comments on why Ronaldo was given the armband, conceding he is by no means the first choice to deputise for usual skipper Harry Maguire and named a number of players he views as better options.
"Harry Maguire is on the bench, our captain of the club," Ten Hag explained. "Then it is about David de Gea who is a leader but is a goalie and is far away from the outfield.
"Then Casemiro is the leader but he is not speaking perfect English so then Cristiano is the leader." Ten Hag actually overlooked Bruno Fernandes, who also often dons the armband but was injured for the trip to the Midlands.
It represents a damning decline from Ronaldo that a player of his calibre and experience is now viewed as the fifth-choice leader at Old Trafford, falling behind a player who has only been at the club three months in Casemiro.
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Discussing Ten Hag's remarks on talkSPORT, Sherwood made his feelings crystal clear as he bemoaned: "What basically he's saying, he was fifth choice isn't he?
"Why he has to justify why he's given Cristiano Ronaldo the armband, I just don't know. Just keep your mouth shut."
Ten Hag's assessment of the leadership situation at United marks yet another low in Ronaldo's second spell at the club, which has quickly turned sour this year after he made clear to Red Devils officials over the summer he'd like to leave.
Awkwardly, there were very few offers for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's services and as a result he stayed put in Manchester. Ronaldo has struggled for form all season, finding the net just once in 10 Premier League games so far.
Things have fared slightly better in the Europa League with two goals in six outings, but three goals in total across all competitions hardly marks the return of a forward operating at the peak of his powers.
10 Premier League appearances for Ronaldo doesn't even entirely paint the full, rather bleak picture, given he has actually only completed 90 minutes on three occasions over the course of the campaign.
