Cristiano Ronaldo, excluded from the match by Manchester United 1:02
(CNN) --
Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo posted a statement on Instagram hours after the club announced the Portuguese striker would not play Chelsea at the weekend.
Ronaldo said that: “I have always tried to set an example myself for the youngsters who grew up in all the teams I have represented.
Unfortunately, that's not always possible, and sometimes the heat of the moment gets the best of us."
The verbatim post says:
“I have always done it throughout my career, I try to live and play with respect towards my teammates, my opponents and my coaches.
That has not changed.
I have not changed.
I am the same person and the same professional that I have been for the last 20 years playing elite football, and respect has always played a very important role in my decision-making process.
I started very young, the examples of older and more experienced players were always very important to me.
That is why, later on, I have always tried to set an example myself to the young people who grew up in all the teams I have represented.
Unfortunately, that's not always possible, and sometimes the heat of the moment brings out the worst in us.
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Right now, I feel like I have to keep working hard at Carrington, support my teammates and be ready for anything in any game.
Giving in to pressure is not an option.
It never was.
This is Manchester United, and together we must resist.
Soon we will be together again."
The team announced this Thursday in a statement the decision not to have the Portuguese striker for the next game.
However, the club's statement did not mention Ronaldo's snub by walking out of the game against Tottenham on Wednesday before the game was over.
The footballer stayed on the substitute bench during that game.
Earlier, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said he would wait until Thursday to "deal" with Ronaldo's early departure.
Manchester United announces that Cristiano Ronaldo will not play next date, after snub in match against Tottenham
Ronaldo, who has had few playing minutes with Ten Hag and who tried to force his way out of United before the start of the season, was an unused substitute in Wednesday's match.
Instead of staying until the final whistle, the Portuguese striker left through the tunnel with several minutes remaining in the match at Old Trafford, shortly after Ten Hag had brought on Christian Eriksen and Anthony Elanga.
Ronaldo appeared unhappy when he was substituted in the 72nd minute of United's 0-0 draw against Newcastle on Sunday, a decision Ten Hag said he made to keep his strikers fresh ahead of a tight run of games.
In his eight appearances so far this season – six of them from the substitutes' bench – Cristiano Ronaldo has only scored one goal.
Speaking to the BBC, former England striker Gary Lineker said it was "unacceptable" and "very poor" for the 37-year-old to leave the match early.
Cristiano Ronaldo