Ronaldo let Manchester United down, says Ten Hag
Erik ten Hag, the former Manchester United boss, told The Athletic that Cristiano Ronaldo “let the team down, and he let me down” during his brief second stint at Old Trafford. The Portuguese star returned to United in 2021 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but his time under ten Hag began in the summer of 2022 and ended a few months later amid controversy.
“The decision was rational,” ten Hag explained. “I flew to Portugal to discuss my plans before I arrived at United. He is one of the greatest players in football history and I respected him, but as a manager I had to make the right choices for the squad.” Ten Hag had dropped Ronaldo for a Premier League match against Chelsea in October 2022 after the forward refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham three days earlier.
Ronaldo later said in a November interview that he felt “betrayed” by United, did not respect ten Hag and was being forced out, describing his departure as “mutually agreed.” He was 36 when he rejoined United from Juventus, and under ten Hag he managed only three goals in 16 appearances before leaving during the 2022‑23 season.
“The idea that I expected him to press or that he was exhausted is wrong,” ten Hag added. “He couldn’t run, either with or without the ball, because he didn’t prepare himself. Every top club must accommodate a top player, but the player must also work for the team.” He also criticized Ronaldo for telling teammates to “save your legs at training,” saying fitness requires personal effort.
The interview was published as Ronaldo received a 30‑day suspension and a €255 (£215) fine from the Portuguese Football Federation for leaving the national team camp early last month.
Ten Hag, who was dismissed by United in October 2024 after winning the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024, said his biggest challenge during his three years was scoring goals. He wanted signings such as Frenkie de Jong, Harry Kane and Declan Rice, and opposed the sale of Scott McTominay to Napoli in August 2024.
When asked whether he felt supported by the club’s hierarchy, current head coach Michael Carrick replied, “Yes. Why wouldn’t I? I have a good relationship with everyone at the club. There are no issues.” Carrick, who took over after ten Hag’s departure, leads a United side that has failed to win in six consecutive matches across all competitions ahead of a Champions League tie at Como. Despite the slump, Carrick said he does not need reassurance about his position, emphasizing his understanding of the role and the need to win games for everything else to fall into place.