Erik ten Hag, the former Manchester United manager, just came out swinging, telling The Athletic that Cristiano Ronaldo absolutely “let the team and let me down” during his chaotic second spell at Old Trafford. This isn’t just a casual jab; it’s a full-on breakdown of the fractured relationship, painting a clear picture of why things went south so dramatically.
The Epic Breakup Story You Only Thought You Knew
Remember that whole mess back in 2022? Ten Hag was fresh in the door, and apparently, he had plans for Ronaldo. He even flew out to Portugal to talk with him about his vision. But things spiraled fast. Ten Hag dropped Ronaldo for a Premier League game after the legend refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham just days earlier. Then came the infamous November interview where Ronaldo basically said he felt “betrayed” by United and didn’t respect Ten Hag. The result? A “mutually agreed” exit for Ronaldo, who returned to United in 2021 at 36 years old. Under Ten Hag, the stats don’t lie: just three goals in 16 appearances before he was out the door in the 2022-23 campaign.
“He Couldn’t Run”: Ten Hag Blasts Ronaldo’s Fitness and Leadership
This is where it gets really spicy. Ten Hag shut down any talk that he expected Ronaldo to be a pressing machine. Instead, he hammered Ronaldo’s physical state: “He couldn’t. He ran neither in possession nor out of possession. The reason was because he didn’t prepare himself.” Woof. The manager emphasized that while top teams embrace top players, those players have to work for the team. And it gets worse: Ten Hag claims Ronaldo was telling other players to “save your legs at the training,” something he might understand if a player is “top fit,” but not when they need to reach “the right fitness levels” first. That’s a direct shot at his leadership and commitment, suggesting Ronaldo wasn’t just letting himself down, but actively undermining team efforts.
Ten Hag, who was sacked by United in October 2024 after winning the Carabao Cup in 2023 and FA Cup in 2024, also reflected on his broader struggles. He revealed he wanted to sign Frenkie de Jong, Harry Kane, and Declan Rice, and was against selling Scott McTominay to Napoli in August 2024. His biggest issue in all three years? “Goals.” Meanwhile, Ronaldo himself has been hit with a 30-day suspension and a 255 euro fine by the Portuguese Football Federation for leaving his country’s international camp last month. Seems like the drama just keeps following him.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by BBC Sport.
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