Erik ten Hag has accused Cristiano Ronaldo of letting Manchester United down by failing to arrange himself for matches, with the previous Purple Devils boss claiming the ahead pulled out of coaching periods and inspired team-mates to ‘save their legs’.
Ronaldo left Man United by mutual consent in November 2022 after a bombshell interview with Piers Morgan, by which he claimed he had been ‘betrayed’ by Ten Hag.
The Portuguese star made simply 16 appearances beneath Ten Hag, who had been appointed as Man United’s head coach in the summertime, with their relationship rapidly unravelling.
Ten Hag, who was sacked as Man United boss in October 2024, has stated he confronted Ronaldo over his preparation for matches.
Chatting with the Athletic, Ten Hag claimed Ronaldo didn’t get himself to the ‘proper health ranges’ after pulling out of coaching periods and did not get his coronary heart charge raised to the required stage when he did practice.
‘He let the crew down, and he let me down, as a result of we deliberate with him,’ Ten Hag stated.
Erik ten Hag has stated Cristiano Ronaldo ‘let the crew down’ at Man United after accusing him of failing to arrange himself for matches
Ten Hag stated he confronted Ronaldo over his health ranges as the previous Man United boss claimed the star had pulled out of coaching periods
‘Clearly, he is among the finest in soccer historical past. I revered him quite a bit. However at the moment, as a supervisor, I needed to make a rational determination and hold the gamers I like in.’
‘Many instances I say, “Ronnie, everybody needs to work so that you can carry you in the precise place, however if you cannot carry your self within the field, you may’t rating”.
‘He was not succesful to do that. It is the flawed thought to place this to me that I anticipated him to do the urgent, that he is exhausted. However he could not. He ran neither in possession nor out of possession. The rationale was as a result of he did not put together himself.
‘Each high crew has to embrace the highest participant, however the high participant has to work for the crew.
‘He was telling the gamers, “Save your legs on the coaching”. I perceive it if you find yourself high match; you’ve got periods, it can save you the legs. However first you must practice your self to get into the precise health ranges.’
The Dutchman reportedly claimed Ronaldo’s stance in the end rubbed off on different gamers within the Man United squad.
Ten Hag insisted that he had outlined his expectations for Ronaldo earlier than he got here to the membership and that he had initially been a key a part of his plans.
Ronaldo had clashed with Ten Hag earlier within the Dutchman’s reign at Man United, with the ahead having been warned about his conduct in pre-season having left Previous Trafford at half-time after being substituted in a pleasant.
Ten Hag dropped Ronaldo in October 2022 after he refused to come back on in its place towards Tottenham and walked down the tunnel earlier than the tip of the match
Ronaldo claimed he had been ‘betrayed’ by Ten Hag in an explosive interview in November 2022, which in the end led to his Man United contract being terminated
He was dropped for a match towards Chelsea in October 2022 after Ten Hag confirmed Ronaldo had refused to come back on in its place towards Tottenham three days earlier.
Ten Hag’s former assistant Steve McClaren claimed earlier this 12 months that there had been a standoff between the Dutchman and Ronaldo, which led to him making an attempt to persuade the star to comply with the top coach’s easy directions to safe a spot within the crew.
Ronaldo’s second spell at Man United in the end ended after his explosive feedback in November 2022.
‘I haven’t got respect for him as a result of he would not present respect for me,’ Ronaldo stated of Ten Hag on the time.
‘Some folks, they do not need me right here – not solely the coach however the different two or three guys. Actually, I should not say that. However pay attention, I do not care. Individuals ought to hearken to the reality. Sure, I really feel betrayed.’
In 2024, Ronaldo doubled down on his disdain for the Dutchman, insisting he was too adverse for a membership of United’s stature.
Ronaldo, now 41, final month grew to become concerned in one other high-profile dispute with a supervisor after strolling out of Portugal’s squad, citing ‘damaged guarantees’ from Jorge Jesus.
That got here after he was left on the bench throughout their 2-1 Nations League win over Norway, with the Portuguese Soccer Federation subsequently suspending the ahead for his actions.
Ronaldo stated a plan had been drawn up for him to come back off the bench for half-hour, however Jesus made him heat up with out bringing him on as a result of he ‘did not want Cristiano’.
Earlier than Portugal’s match towards Denmark, soccer’s all-time main goalscorer is known to have agreed to an eight-point assertion for Jesus to ship at his press convention, geared toward quashing hypothesis that Ronaldo was demanding extra enjoying time.
However Jesus veered off target, prompting Ronaldo to bail on the Portugal camp earlier than releasing a rare 1,996-word assertion accusing the supervisor of twice backtracking on his phrase.
Ronaldo has since been fined £215 and banned for a month by Portuguese soccer chiefs, however the punishment is backdated to September 30.
It’s going to guarantee Ronaldo is free to return to Portugal’s squad for his or her Nations League matches subsequent month if he’s known as up by Jesus.
