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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Josh O'Brien

Erik ten Hag told to "beg for forgiveness" as bizarre Cristiano Ronaldo theory emerges

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has been warned by Piers Morgan that he should beg for forgiveness if Arsenal win the Premier League this season.

Despite the fact the Dutchman has overseen a remarkable turnaround in fortunes at Old Trafford since his shaky start, Morgan feels Ten Hag could still have plenty to answer for. It has not gone unnoticed that United's inspired run of form has come as soon as Cristiano Ronaldo left the club after having his contract terminated by mutual consent in November.

Ronaldo's exit came on the back of his bombshell interview with Morgan, during which he took aim at everyone from Ten Hag to the Glazers. It became clear that the 37-year-old could not stay at the club following his comments and his departure was confirmed on the eve of Portugal's World Cup campaign.

Morgan has confessed he is keeping tabs on how United are faring without their former talisman and though they seem to have drastically improved without Ronaldo, the outspoken journalist remains unconvinced. He told talkSPORT he expects Arsenal, United's next opponents, to brush the Red Devils aside at Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Pressed for comment on whether United are better off without Ronaldo, Morgan replied: "Why don’t you come back and ask me at 6.30pm on Sunday and see how cocky they’re all feeling at United then? I’ve been watching it all. They’ve been beating a few teams and they had a good result against City.

Manchester United are up to fourth in the Premier League table without Cristiano Ronaldo (Getty Images)

HAVE YOUR SAY! Is Morgan's assessment of a Ronaldo-less Man Utd fair? Comment below.

"Let’s not get the bunting out just yet, I think we’re (Arsenal) going to absolutely demolish them on Sunday and then, at that moment, I will remind them that they managed to lever out the greatest footballer in history because they thought that was a great idea."

Should United spring a surprise and topple Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday, it would put just six points between the two teams and blow the race for the title wide open.

With that being said, passionate Arsenal fan Morgan has quashed any talk that Ten Hag's men could leapfrog the Gunners in the table.

He added: "When we win the league and when United do not win the league because they got rid of the GOAT, I expect Erik ten Hag to get on bended knee beg me for forgiveness and apologise to Cristiano Ronaldo for the shocking disrespect that he showed him."

In Ronaldo's absence, Marcus Rashford has stepped up as the foward United can rely on to get the goals, with the England ace scoring 16 times across all competitions this term.

Arsenal will be out to thwart his impact and keep their title charge in full swing come Sunday.

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