Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has reignited debate over his strained relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo, claiming the Portuguese superstar failed to meet the club’s expectations in training and on the pitch during their time together at Old Trafford.
In an interview with The Athletic published on Tuesday, Ten Hag said Ronaldo disappointed both him and the team, particularly because the manager had initially planned around the forward’s involvement in his project at United.
According to the Dutchman, he travelled to Portugal before taking charge of the English club to discuss his vision with Ronaldo and explain the role he hoped the striker would play under his leadership.
However, Ten Hag said the reality of their working relationship eventually forced him to make decisions based on the team’s needs rather than the player’s reputation.
Although he acknowledged Ronaldo’s status as one of football’s greatest-ever players, the former United boss argued that individual achievements could not exempt a footballer from collective responsibilities.
Ten Hag alleged that Ronaldo struggled with aspects of the club’s fitness programme, claiming the forward sometimes withdrew from training and failed to reach the required heart-rate levels during sessions.
He also revisited Manchester United’s humiliating 4-0 loss to Brentford in August 2022, recalling that the squad was ordered to run laps following the defeat. Ten Hag claimed Ronaldo completed two of the three laps assigned to the players.
The former manager further said he repeatedly challenged Ronaldo to improve his movement inside the penalty area, arguing that the team could create scoring opportunities for him only if he positioned himself effectively to finish them.
Ten Hag also accused the striker of discouraging intense training by telling teammates to conserve their energy during practice sessions. He maintained that such an approach was unsuitable for players who had yet to achieve the fitness levels demanded by his system.
While acknowledging the importance of building a team around elite performers, Ten Hag insisted that leading players must also contribute to the team’s work rate, pressing and overall tactical discipline.
The dispute between the pair became one of the defining controversies of Ten Hag’s tenure. Ronaldo’s relationship with the club deteriorated during the 2022/23 campaign, eventually leading to his departure in November 2022 after a controversial interview in which he openly criticised Manchester United and its management.
