Man United have been the Premier League’s best team since Cristiano Ronaldo left

Rory Fleming

Ten Hag vindicated by alternative league table.

The football world was in a collective state of shock following Cristiano Ronaldo’s explosive interview with Piers Morgan prior to the Qatar World Cup last November.

Ronaldo failed to secure regular game time under newly-appointed Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag in the opening months of the season. In November, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner took the drastic step of trying to force a move away from Old Trafford by giving an exclusive tell-all interview to TV personality Morgan.

The now infamous two-part interview was the final straw for Ten Hag and the club, who were ultimately left with no option but cut ties with the Portuguese star. Both sides agreed to mutually terminate his contract.

After much debate at the time as to who was in the right, the feud has now been categorically settled as the 10-game league table since Ronaldo’s departure proves.

Premier League form table. Click to expand. Via thefishy.co.uk

As the table highlights, Ten Hag’s United look like a side reborn in the wake of Ronaldo’s exit, sitting atop the adjusted Premier League table for the time period in question.

Having claimed an impressive 23 points over the course of their last 10 league games, United have won seven, drawn twice and lost only once in the league- a run which now leaves them in third place.

Marcus Rashford has been leading the line in place of the departed Cristiano Ronaldo. The England international has been in inspired form since returning from the winter World Cup, bagging an excellent tally of 14 goals in all competitions.

However, with both Man City and Arsenal still being five points ahead of United, and the latter with a game in hand, a late title charge does appear to be just out of reach for ten Hag’s rejuvenated side.

A superb 2-2 draw at the Camp Nou in the Europa League round of 32 was yet another indicator of just how far this team has come since the start of the season, which saw a Ronaldo-led United lose to both Brighton and Brentford.

With Ronaldo now plying his trade for Al Nasr in the Saudi Arabian Pro League and United in such a rich vein of form, it’s clear to see that ten Hag’s side are much better off without the drama which accompanies the world’s best-paid player.

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