Cristiano Ronaldo let Manchester United down by not being fit enough during the final months of his second stint at Old Trafford, according to Erik ten Hag. The club's former manager claims that Ronaldo pulled out of training sessions and did not work for the team or sufficiently prepare to run during matches.
Ronaldo left United by mutual consent in November 2022, months after Ten Hag took charge. He said at the time that his manager did not respect him. Four years later, the Dutchman has shared his version of events, recalling how he challenged Ronaldo about his lack of professionalism.
Ten Hag's Confrontation with Ronaldo
Ten Hag told The Athletic: "I confronted him with this. Many times I say, 'Ronnie, 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'."
"He was not capable to do this. It's the wrong idea to put this to me that I expected him to do the pressing, that he's exhausted. But he couldn't. He ran neither in possession nor out of possession. The reason was because he didn't prepare himself. Every top team has to embrace the top player, but the top player has to work for the team."
Ten Hag added: "He was telling the players, 'Save your legs at the training'. I understand it when you are top fit; you have sessions, you can save the legs. But first you have to train yourself to get into the right fitness levels."
Ronaldo's Response and Fred's Criticism
Ronaldo said in an interview with Piers Morgan Uncensored days before his departure was announced: "I don't have respect for him (Ten Hag) because he doesn't show respect for me."
He added: "If you don't have respect for me, I'm never gonna have respect for you. Not only the manager, but the other two or three guys who are around the club. I felt betrayed. I don't care; people should listen to the truth. Yes, I felt betrayed. I feel that some people didn't want me here, not only this year but last season too."
Ten Hag has also addressed fresh criticism from Fred, who opened up on the Charla Podcast, saying: "Ten Hag was tactically very good, but with the group he was a piece of c***. He argued with everyone. He argued with me, with Cristiano [Ronaldo], with Casemiro, with [Marcus] Rashford... he wouldn't put me in to play; sometimes it got stressful. Only his Dutch players played. A clique-ridden coach. But, tactically, one of the best I've ever worked with. He wanted the team to run, but Cristiano [was] older. He took Cristiano out, and then there was a falling out."
Ten Hag's Response to Fred
Ten Hag said: "I'm not mad at Fred. You fight with your players when they are showing inefficient and unprepared standards. But it's always with respect. You want to push them; you want to get the best out of them."
