Erik ten Hag accuses Cristiano Ronaldo of ‘letting down’ Manchester United

Erik ten Hag has claimed Cristiano Ronaldo “let the workforce down” throughout their time collectively at Manchester United. Ten Hag has additionally alleged that guarantees made by United’s house owners went unfulfilled, resulting in his sacking by the club in October 2024.

Ronaldo returned for a second spell at United in August 2021 and was already on the membership when Ten Hag was appointed in April 2022 as Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s successor. The relationship between the pair rapidly broke down, nevertheless, with Ronaldo refusing to come back on instead in a win towards Tottenham in October 2022 earlier than he then publicly criticised the club in a TV interview. The ahead’s contract was mutually terminated the next month.

“He let the workforce down, and he let me down, as a result of we deliberate with him,” Ten Hag mentioned in an interview with the Athletic. “He’s probably the greatest in soccer historical past. I revered him rather a lot. But at the moment, as a supervisor, I needed to make a rational resolution and preserve the gamers I like in.”

Ten Hag claims Ronaldo didn’t full the total run that gamers have been set after they have been beaten 4-0 by Brentford early in his reign. “I confronted him with this,” Ten Hag mentioned. “Many occasions I say: ‘Ronnie, everybody needs to work so that you can convey you in the proper place, however in case you can’t convey your self within the field, you’ll be able to’t rating.’”

Ten Hag was sacked solely 5 months after he won the FA Cup after which signed a contract extension. The Dutchman claimed within the discussions with the membership’s house owners about his new deal that he was made guarantees which weren’t stored, and he was left “embarrassed” when Scott McTominay was bought to Napoli with out his consent. He mentioned: “They promised me loyalty, they promised me backing, they promised communication, that we get aligned. We spoke concerning the points. But the guarantees, they didn’t preserve.

“I mentioned: ‘No promoting Scott McTominay.’ And ultimately they bought him. I received, after all, very embarrassed and upset.”