Erik ten Hag Claims Cristiano Ronaldo Let Manchester United Down

Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has accused Cristiano Ronaldo of letting both him and the team down during their time together at Old Trafford.

In an interview with The Athletic, Ten Hag said he had travelled to Portugal to discuss his plans with Ronaldo before taking charge of the Premier League club. Despite describing the Portuguese forward as one of the greatest players in football history, he said he eventually had to make decisions based on the team's needs.

Ten Hag Questions Ronaldo’s Fitness

Ten Hag alleged that Ronaldo struggled with fitness and training preparation, claiming the forward sometimes withdrew from sessions and failed to meet expected physical standards.

He also recalled a running exercise following Manchester United’s 4-0 defeat to Brentford in August 2022, alleging that Ronaldo completed only two of three laps.

According to Ten Hag, he repeatedly challenged the striker to improve his fitness and positioning, arguing that the team could not maximise his goal-scoring ability if he was unable to get into the right areas.

Teamwork Dispute at Old Trafford

The former manager further alleged that Ronaldo encouraged teammates to conserve their energy during training. Ten Hag said he understood the need to manage physical demands but insisted players must first reach the fitness levels required to compete.

He maintained that while top players deserve support from their teams, they must also contribute to the collective effort.

The comments offer Ten Hag’s account of his strained relationship with Ronaldo during his Manchester United tenure, highlighting disagreements over training, fitness and expectations within the squad.