‘Ronaldo’s not been able to do it for eight years’ – Ten Hag launches fresh attack
Cristiano Ronaldo’s second spell at Manchester United may have ended four years ago, but the fallout from his stormy stint at Old Trafford continues, with former manager Erik ten Hag claiming he was finished after his time at Juventus.
There was no love lost between Ten Hag and Ronaldo during that period, with the Portuguese openly critical of both the manager and the club in an explosive interview with Piers Morgan that ultimately saw him released and allowed to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.
Trouble had been brewing for months. Ronaldo stormed out of Old Trafford after being substituted during a pre-season match against Rayo Vallecano while the issues grew worse when he was dropped from competitive action following a poor goal return.
Ten Hag launches fresh attack on Ronaldo
Ten Hag opened up on the behind-the-scenes issues between him and Ronaldo while speaking on ESPN Netherlands’ ‘Goedemorgen Eredivisie’ programme.
He outlined the tension between the pair and was highly critical of the striker’s investment in the team, contrasting that directly to long-time rival Lionel Messi.
“Over the last seven or eight years, he simply hasn't been able to do it anymore. After Juventus, it was over,” Ten Hag explained.
“That's the great thing about Real Madrid. They always know when to say goodbye to players. They recognise when a player's level starts to decline, and they say goodbye at a time when, to the outside world, that player is still at the top of his game. But internally, they know he can no longer deliver at that level without things becoming painful.
“When I started the job at Man Utd, I sat down with him and explained how we were going to play, what his role would be, what I expected from him and what he could expect from me and the team.
“But ultimately, you have to deliver yourself. As I said, he could no longer afford to push himself to the limit, give everything every day, go into training at full intensity and get himself fit.
“And if you're not fit in the Premier League, the Champions League or when playing for Portugal, then you're simply not going to make it.
“I always thought that was his greatest strength: doing everything, and even more, to make sure he was fit.
“But in the end, he couldn't do it anymore. If you can't meet those demands, then the standards of the Premier League won't wait for you. You simply can't keep up.
“You show him what's required, and he knows it. He knows what's needed; otherwise, he would never have achieved what he has. But you hold up a mirror to him, put forward arguments that stand up, and show him the evidence. Then it's very clear.
“He was, of course, a great player. He won the Champions League four or five times, with Real Madrid and Manchester United. He scored so many goals and gave so much to football.
“We all enjoyed watching him. I enjoyed it too. But at that moment, I had to make a decision in the interests of the team and the club.
“And I think you have to be clear about that. There must be a certain amount of pain in your football heart, but I know I did everything I could to make it work.
“Ultimately, though, it was up to him whether he wanted to make that investment or not. And if he didn't, then I had to act in the interests of the team. I had to make different choices, and we've seen what happened.
“Because you also have to deal with all sorts of power struggles. Piers Morgan gets involved, and I know a lot about all of that. Those are things you don't really experience anywhere else, or with any other player.
“But that's a fundamental principle: nobody is bigger than a club or a country. Not even Cristiano Ronaldo. Not even Messi.
“In the end, the team always comes first.
“As I said, every top team has to embrace its best players, but those players have to work for the team. If they no longer do that, it simply cannot work. It will never be successful. And eventually, it has to come to an end.
“If the best players don't understand that, then that's a problem.
“And that's also what makes Messi's situation with Argentina so remarkable. The way he embraced that role was fantastic to see. But it also required a huge investment from Messi himself. In the end, everyone bought into it. Everyone worked for him, but he gave a great deal back in return.”
Ten Hag recently spoke out about Ronaldo in an interview with The Athletic, which drew criticism from Manchester United great Peter Schmeichel, who accused him of “stirring the pot”.
The Dutchman rejects these criticisms, stating: “Look, when people are ignorant of what's really going on but still pass judgement, then... No, I'm not surprised anymore. And you can see where United are now.”
Indeed, Man Utd currently find themselves hovering just one place above the relegation zone in the Premier League after winning only one of their first nine matches of the season, with Bruno Fernandes criticising Michael Carrick’s tactics in the media in an echo of Ten Hag’s issues with Ronaldo.
