Cadiz 4 Man Utd 2: Nightmare for Erik ten Hag in post-Cristiano Ronaldo era as strong side thumped in Spain friendly
ERIK TEN Hag may insist Cristiano Ronaldo won’t be missed.
But the Manchester United boss was certainly pinning for plenty of those who he says will build a new future without the sacked superstar.
Ten Hag, minus the likes of Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes and Christian Eriksen fielded his back–up brigade for the first of two Spanish warm–up games against Cadiz.
In the absence of the World Cup stars wannabees like budding sensation Alejandro Garnacho, 18, and another attacker in Zidane Iqbal.
Central defender Teden Mengi, 20, also started alongside Victor Lindelof.
Yet he cannot have enjoyed his first chance to shine as he and his far more experienced partner were pulled all over the place amidst a nightmare start.
The pair were rooted to the spot as Carlos Garcia put his La Liga team – second from bottom – ahead from close range after just eight minutes.
Not long after they could only watch again as Cadiz ripped through once more, Anthony Lozano this time sweeping home from 15 yards.
In the build–up to the friendly Ten Hag dismissed the departure of Ronaldo in two short and not-so-sweet sentences.
The Dutchman spoke for the first time since the sulky superstar was sacked following an explosive interview with Piers Morgan.
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He claimed that he felt “betrayed” by United and that he had “no respect” for Ten Hag.
But as he prepared for the clash on the southern tip of Spain the no-nonsense Dutchman coldly declared: “He’s gone and it’s the past.
“We are now looking forward and we’re looking to the future.”
That future may be bright and without Ronaldo the circus is certainly likely to be a lot less turbulent.
Part of it will be Anthony Martial, now free and clear to stake his claim as United’s No 1 striker.
The Frenchman who was last season frozen out by interim boss Ralf Rangnick, has become a favourite of ten Hag. Despite a series of injuries he scored four goals in seven games before the Qatar break.
And he did himself no harm when he cut the gap on Cadiz with a cool 21st-minute panenka penalty.
Ten Hag made ten changes for the second half – only third choice ‘keeper Martin Dubravka keeping his place – after a first 45 minutes in which the manager’s fellow countryman Donnie van de Beek certainly didn’t suggest he could be looking at a bright new start.
The mass change in personnel did, however, bring an equaliser three minutes in from a side all but made up from the youth ranks.
Kobbie Mainoo, 17, celebrated a step forward, his deflected shot sending goalkeeper David Gil the wrong way.
But one of a raft of Cadiz changes at the break, Ruben Sobrino, put the Spaniards back ahead and Tomas Alarcon sealed the deal with a neat 78th-minute finish.