Erik ten Hag has fired back at Cristiano Ronaldo after the football great questioned the mentality the Dutchman is instilling at the club.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Comment About Erik ten Hag
Ronaldo shared on the “Rio Ferdinand Presents” podcast that a Manchester United manager should not be saying that the team isn’t going to fight to win the Premier League or Champions League.
Speaking on Ten Hag, Cristiano Ronaldo said: “Man United manager… you cannot say that you’re not going to fight to win the Premier League or Champions League.”
“You’ve to say like: maybe we’ve not the potential but we’re going to try. You have to try!”
The assertions of Ronaldo are hinged on a previous statement made by Erik ten Hag in July 2024, with the 54-year-old claiming that Manchester United are a “long way away” from being ready to win the Premier League title.
The Response Of Erik ten Hag To Cristiano Ronaldo
During a presser ahead of Manchester United’s away clash against Southampton on Saturday, September 14, 2024, Erik ten Hag gave a cheeky reply to the comments of Ronaldo.
He said: “He said that Man United can’t win the Premier League. He said this, if you read the article very well”.
The former Ajax boss added that Ronaldo is far away in Saudi, far away from Manchester United, but he is free to have an opinion about the club.
Ten Hag said: “Ronaldo is far away in Saudi, far away from Manchester. Everyone can have an opinion. It’s okay!”.
How Did Cristiano Ronaldo’s Second Stint At Manchester United End?
Cristiano Ronaldo exited Manchester United in acrimonious circumstances in November 2022, following a fallout with the Dutch tactician.
Ronaldo evoked a storm in 2022 after granting an expository interview with British journalist and media personality Piers Morgan.
The attacker tore into the Old Trafford side, bashing the tactics of boss Erik ten Hag alongside the administrators of the club, whilst pointing out the dilapidating nature of many of the team’s facilities.
Cristiano Ronaldo also touched on the treatment he got from ten Hag, having refused to come on as a substitute in Manchester United’s 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on October 19, 2022.
His statements brought about mixed reactions, but it was evident that his second spell at the club had reached its ending point.
Manchester United subsequently terminated the contract of Ronaldo in November 2022 by mutual consent, with the Portuguese afterward joining Al Nassr in January 2023.
Manchester United In The 2024/25 Season
The Old Trafford side have had a poor start to the new campaign despite the additions made in the summer of 2024.
Manchester United secured the services of top stars like Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, and Manuel Ugarte this summer, but their fortunes are yet to improve.
The duo of Yoro and Ugarte are yet to feature this season, with the former being unavailable for action due to injury, while the latter is expected to make his debut against Southampton on September 14, 2024.
They commenced the 2024/25 season with a 1-0 win against Fulham before experiencing a heart-wrenching 2-1 defeat to Brighton.
Before the international break in September 2024, Erik ten Hag’s side also suffered a humiliating 3-0 loss to Liverpool at Old Trafford.
Due to these defeats, there have been reports that ten Hag could be dismissed by Manchester United in the coming months if the club’s fortunes don’t improve.
They currently occupy the 14th spot on the Premier League table, with 3 points from 3 matches played thus far.
