Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag stated that Cristiano Ronaldo let the team down during their troubled period together at Old Trafford.
Speaking in an interview with The Athletic, as reported by the BBC and The Guardian, Ten Hag opened up about his tumultuous relationship with the Portugal forward. Ronaldo was already at the club for his second spell when the Dutch manager took charge in the summer of 2022. According to Ten Hag, he had flown to Portugal before joining United to discuss his plans with the player, whom he respected as one of the greatest in football history. However, the relationship soured rapidly during the 2022-23 campaign. Ten Hag stated that Ronaldo let both the squad and him down because the team had planned around him, forcing the manager to make rational decisions.
The tension culminated in October 2022 when Ten Hag dropped Ronaldo for a Premier League match against Chelsea after the forward refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham three days earlier. The Guardian noted that Ten Hag also confronted Ronaldo for failing to complete a post-match run following a 4-0 defeat to Brentford early in the manager's reign. Ten Hag asserted that Ronaldo did not prepare himself properly regarding fitness and running, and even told teammates to save their legs in training. The situation led to a controversial television interview in November 2022 where Ronaldo stated he felt betrayed and did not respect Ten Hag, resulting in his departure from the club by mutually agreed contract termination.
Beyond the friction with Ronaldo, Ten Hag addressed his own departure from Manchester United in October 2024, just months after winning the FA Cup and signing a contract extension. He claimed that the club's owners failed to keep promises made to him regarding loyalty, backing, and communication. The former manager expressed embarrassment and disappointment over the sale of Scott McTominay to Napoli in August 2024, noting that he had explicitly opposed the move. Ten Hag also revealed that during his tenure, he had wanted to sign Frenkie de Jong, Harry Kane, and Declan Rice, noting that scoring goals remained the biggest issue across his three years in charge.
Why It Matters
This public airing of grievances sheds light on the internal friction that often characterizes high-profile football clubs during periods of transition. The breakdown in communication between management and star players, alongside alleged unfulfilled promises from club leadership, can derail even the most carefully constructed sporting projects. For Manchester United, revelations of squad disharmony and disagreements over player recruitment highlight the structural challenges that persisted throughout Ten Hag's tenure. Understanding these dynamics offers valuable context into how modern football clubs manage elite talent, squad discipline, and executive decision-making under intense public scrutiny.
Illustration: AI-generated image, not a photograph of the event.