Erik ten Hag criticizes Cristiano Ronaldo’s conduct at Manchester United

Former Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has publicly criticized Cristiano Ronaldo’s conduct during their time together at the club. In a recent interview with The Athletic, the 56-year-old Dutch manager revealed that he had traveled to Portugal before taking the job in 2022 to discuss tactical plans centered around the star forward. However, he stated that Ronaldo ultimately betrayed the team and disappointed him personally through his behavior.

Ten Hag highlighted specific concerns regarding Ronaldo’s performance, noting a lack of physical effort in training and during matches, regardless of whether the team was in possession. The manager argued that Ronaldo failed to adapt to the requirements of a high-pressing system, stating the player was unable to perform the necessary movements to score goals effectively. Despite Ronaldo’s reputation for a rigorous work ethic, Ten Hag suggested that the player had not adequately prepared himself to meet the physical demands of modern football at Manchester United.

The manager served at Old Trafford from 2022 to 2024 before departing the club. While Ten Hag remains critical of the period, he is currently active as the technical director of Twente, having moved on from his coaching role in England nearly two years ago.