During his tenure as Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag publicly criticized Cristiano Ronaldo for failing to meet expectations and ultimately letting both the team and himself down. The tension between the Portuguese forward and the Dutch coach became evident shortly after Ten Hag’s appointment in 2022.
Ronaldo was in the midst of his second stint at the club when Ten Hag took charge. Their strained relationship came to a head in October 2022 when Ronaldo refused to enter the pitch as a substitute during a match against Tottenham Hotspur. Following this incident, Ronaldo was omitted from the squad for the next game against Chelsea.
In response to his exclusion, Ronaldo gave a candid television interview where he expressed feelings of betrayal by Manchester United and openly stated that he did not respect Ten Hag as a manager. This public fallout preceded the mutual termination of Ronaldo’s contract with the club the following month.
Manager’s Perspective on Ronaldo’s Commitment
In an interview with The Athletic, Ten Hag reflected on the challenges of managing a player of Ronaldo’s stature. While acknowledging the striker’s status as one of football’s all-time greats and expressing personal respect for him, Ten Hag emphasized the necessity of making rational decisions for the benefit of the team.
“He let the team down, and he let me down, because we planned with him,” Ten Hag said. The manager revealed that Ronaldo’s commitment in training was a significant issue, citing instances where the forward pulled out of sessions or failed to complete the full runs prescribed, particularly following a heavy 4-0 defeat to Brentford early in Ten Hag’s tenure.
“I confronted him with this. Many times I say, ‘Ronnie, everyone wants to work for you to bring you in the right position, but if you can’t bring yourself in the box, you can’t score.’ He was not capable to do this,” Ten Hag explained, highlighting the gap between Ronaldo’s reputation and his actual contributions during that period.
The Dutch coach made it clear that his priority was to maintain a squad composed of players fully committed to the collective goals, even when that meant sidelining a global superstar. The episode stands as a notable chapter in both Ten Hag’s and Ronaldo’s careers at Manchester United, illustrating the challenges of managing high-profile players within a demanding team environment.