Ten Hag set to battle Liverpool in Bangkok without Ronaldo

 

New Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag will flag off his pre-season against Liverpool in Bangkok today.

The Old Trafford landlord have lined up series of preseason showdown in Thailand and Australia to shape up ahead of new season where they hope to perform better after below par show last season. Hag has earlier insisted that  Cristiano Ronaldo is “not for sale,” despite the Portuguese superstar skipping the team’s pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia.

Ronaldo missed the start of training with the English Premier League giants last week due to a family issue.

The 37-year-old did not make the plane for the pre-season trip, with reports saying he wants to leave after the Red Devils’ failure to qualify for the Champions League.

Speaking on the eve of the Old Trafford club’s first pre-season friendly against Liverpool at Bangkok’s Rajamangala National Stadium today, Ten Hag said: “We are planning for Cristiano Ronaldo for the season and that’s it and I’m looking forward to working with him.

“I have read it, but what I say is Cristiano is not for sale. He is in our plans and we want success together.”

Manchester United players take part in a training session at Rajamangala National Stadium Monday ahead of their friendly with Liverpool at the venue on Tuesday (Today)

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The Dutch coach revealed he had spoken to the unsettled striker before the reports emerged last week that he wanted to leave Old Trafford.

“I spoke with him before this issue came up,” said Ten Hag. “I had a conversation with him and we had a real good talk.”

However, he refused to be drawn on the substance of the conversation, stating that it was “between Cristiano and me.”

Ronaldo it will be recalled  asked to leave after being unhappy with the club’s poor form since his return to Manchester last year they finished sixth in the Premier League, condemning them to the second-tier Europa League next season.