Erik ten Hag says Cristiano Ronaldo let Manchester United down
The former United manager said Ronaldo lacked the preparation and movement needed for the role he had planned for him during their brief time together at Old Trafford.
Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said in an interview published on 20 October that Cristiano Ronaldo let him and the team down during their time together at Old Trafford, blaming the forward’s preparation and movement for his struggles. The remarks revisit the breakdown of a relationship that ended when Ronaldo left United in November 2022.
“He let the team down, and he let me down, because we planned with him,” Ten Hag told The Athletic, according to Reuters. Ten Hag said he had travelled to Portugal before taking charge of United to discuss his plans with Ronaldo. His account places the criticism in the context of a role he says he had expected the forward to fill.
Why Ten Hag criticised Ronaldo’s preparation
Ten Hag told The Athletic that Ronaldo was unable to make the runs needed to get into scoring positions, Reuters reported. He said he had raised the issue with the forward directly: “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.”
BBC Sport reported a further explanation from Ten Hag, who said Ronaldo ran neither in possession nor out of possession because he had not prepared himself. Ten Hag rejected the suggestion that he had expected Ronaldo to do exhausting defensive pressing. He said a leading player had to work for the team, and claimed Ronaldo had told teammates to save their legs in training.
How Ronaldo’s second United spell ended
Ronaldo returned to Manchester United from Juventus in 2021, more than a decade after leaving the club for Real Madrid. He had won three Premier League titles during his first spell under Alex Ferguson. Ten Hag took charge in the summer of 2022, but Ronaldo’s second stint ended within months. Reuters reported that he scored once in 10 league appearances in the 2022–23 season before his departure; that figure refers specifically to league matches.
The Guardian reported that Ronaldo refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham in October 2022. He later publicly criticised United in a television interview, saying he felt betrayed by the club and did not respect Ten Hag, according to BBC Sport. United and Ronaldo mutually terminated his contract the following month. Those earlier comments remain part of Ronaldo’s account of the dispute as Ten Hag offers his own explanation for their failed working relationship.
Ten Hag led United to third place in the Premier League in 2022–23 and was sacked in 2024, Reuters reported. The Guardian also reported his claim that United’s owners failed to keep promises made during discussions about his contract extension, including promises of backing and communication. He said he was embarrassed when Scott McTominay was sold to Napoli without his consent. Reuters said it had contacted Ronaldo’s representatives for comment on Ten Hag’s latest remarks.
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Sources and context
- Ronaldo let Man United down, says club's former boss Ten HagReuters (republished by Channel NewsAsia)
- Erik ten Hag accuses Cristiano Ronaldo of ‘letting down’ Manchester UnitedThe Guardian (report credited to PA Media)
- Cristiano Ronaldo let Manchester United down, says Erik ten HagBBC Sport
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.