Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has accused Cristiano Ronaldo of letting the team down during his time in charge, according to interviews published by the Express Tribune and BBC Sport. Ten Hag stated that the Portuguese star, who was in his second spell at United when the Dutchman was hired in 2022, failed to meet physical preparations and expectations.
According to the Express Tribune and BBC Sport, Ten Hag revealed that his relationship with Ronaldo quickly grew tense after the forward refused to come on as a substitute during a win against Tottenham in October 2022. Following this, Ronaldo was dropped for a match against Chelsea, which prompted a televised interview where Ronaldo stated he felt betrayed by United and did not respect Ten Hag. His contract was mutually terminated the following month.
"He let the team down, and he let me down, because we planned with him," Ten Hag told The Athletic, as reported by both outlets. Ten Hag added that Ronaldo pulled out of training sessions and failed to complete a full run after a 4-0 defeat to Brentford early in his reign, noting that the player did not prepare himself physically for pressing.
Background
According to the Express Tribune and BBC Sport, Ten Hag was appointed as Manchester United's manager in 2022. During his tenure, he won the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024 following a victory against Manchester City. However, Ten Hag was sacked in October 2024 with the team sitting in 14th place in the Premier League.
In his interview, Ten Hag also directed criticism toward United's hierarchy, claiming that promises regarding loyalty, backing, and communication went unfulfilled. He stated that he was left embarrassed and disappointed when midfielder Scott McTominay was sold to Napoli without his consent, and mentioned that he had previously wanted to sign Harry Kane, Declan Rice, and Frenkie de Jong. Meanwhile, BBC Sport noted that the publication of Ten Hag's interview coincided with Ronaldo receiving a 30-day suspension and a fine from the Portuguese Football Federation following an incident during an international camp.
Why it matters
For sports followers in Pakistan and across the globe, high-profile conflicts at elite European football clubs highlight the intense pressures, management challenges, and ego navigations inherent in professional sports. The friction between a high-profile player and a club manager demonstrates how communication breakdowns and unmet expectations can impact team morale, club performance, and administrative stability at the highest levels of association football.