Ronaldo left the dugout before the final whistle after refusing to come on as a substitute in Manchester United’s 2-0 win over Tottenham at Old Trafford on Wednesday night and was out of the stadium even before the game finished.
Ten Hag wielded the axe the next morning and the veteran forward was banished from the first team and was made to train alone.
Ronaldo has also been fined two weeks’ wages and will not be in the squad when Manchester United take on Chelsea this weekend.
The Manchester United manager insisted that it is his task to set the culture and pointed out that once Ronaldo committed the same mistake twice he had to pay the consequences for his actions.
Ten Hag said in a press conference: “I am the manager. I am responsible for the culture, I have to set the standards and values.
“After Rayo Vallecano, I said it [leaving early] was unacceptable.
“The second time there has to be consequences.
“Football is a team sport.
“You have to set a certain standard.”
It remains to be seen whether Ronaldo returns to the squad following the Chelsea game as Ten Hag looks to handle a delicate issue with a superstar player.
