Patrice Evra has admitted he wasn't a fan of Erik ten Hag's comments on Cristiano Ronaldo after Sunday's Manchester derby defeat and believes his former teammate deserves more opportunities in the Premier League.
After the game, Ten Hag raised eyebrows by claiming he didn't bring the five-time Ballon d'Or winner on 'out of respect for his big career' and in the aftermath speculation has arisen that he could leave in the January transfer window. Evra has labelled the situation as a 'circus.'
"I've read reports saying United will let Ronaldo leave in January. It's a circus again. We're back to what we've done all those years, I don't understand it," he told Betfair. "We are not inside the club, so maybe the manager and Cristiano talked before the season and Ten Hag said he needs to be fit and will get a chance. I know a player like Cristiano Ronaldo won't accept that. To be fit you need time and to play.
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"Ten Hag gave Ronaldo his chance to play in the first two games and we lost, so he changed the team and they won four games in a row. Actually, what Ten Hag is doing is the right thing.
"I didn't like Ten Hag's comments after the City game when he was asked why he didn't play Ronaldo. He said it was out of respect to his career. First of all, as a manager you should never justify yourself. Now everyone can debate his decision. For the respect of Ronaldo's career why aren't you playing him and why isn't he starting? It doesn't make sense.
"Ronaldo wants to play in the Word Cup so he wants to be fit. He needs games, no matter your age you need to get game time to get fit, especially when you get older. People don't understand, to get fit you have to play games.
"He's not had that time and I'm sure Ronaldo would have gone into Ten Hag's office and said that he doesn't want to damage his reputation and be the villain of the club, moaning every time when he's on the bench. He's professional, he's training 100% so he has probably asked Ten Hag to let him leave in January. I don't know what's been said between the two of them. "
Evra believes that Sunday's result means Ten Hag should bring Ronaldo back into the fold as he deserves another chance. He added: "I'm sorry, when you have a player like Cristiano Ronaldo, no matter if he's not pressing or whatever, focus on what he can do. He scores goals. I'm sure if he leaves and goes to another club he will score goals.
"He needs his chance in the Premier League again. Ten Hag can now justify playing him again after losing the last match. Football goes so fast, imagine Ronaldo starts in the Europa League, scores, then he starts in the Premier League and score. United win two games and everything changes. Then we'll be saying Ronaldo is so important and we can't let him go in January."
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