Rangnick Defends Ronaldo Substitution Decision
Emotional Ronaldo Reacts to Being Replaced
Interim Manager Clarifies Reasoning
Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has defended his decision to substitute Cristiano Ronaldo during their match against Burnley on Friday. Ronaldo was visibly frustrated after being replaced by Harry Maguire in the 72nd minute, but Rangnick insists that the decision was tactical.
"I understand that Cristiano was disappointed to come off, but it was a decision that I had to make for the team," Rangnick said after the game. "We were losing 1-0 at the time, and I felt that we needed to make a change to try and win the game. I have no doubt that Cristiano will understand my decision."
Ronaldo's reaction to being substituted has been widely criticized, with many accusing him of being selfish and disrespectful. However, Rangnick has defended Ronaldo's behavior, saying that he is simply a passionate player who wants to win.
"Cristiano is a very emotional player," Rangnick said. "He wants to win every game, and he hates losing. I can understand why he was disappointed to come off, but I don't think there was any malice in his actions."
Manchester United eventually went on to win the game 3-1, with Maguire scoring the winning goal in the 81st minute. Rangnick will be hoping that Ronaldo can put this incident behind him and focus on helping the team achieve their goals for the rest of the season.
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