Cristiano Ronaldo let Manchester United and me down, says Erik the Hag

Cristiano Ronaldo’s second spell at Manchester United ended on a sour note, but former manager Erik ten Hag has now offered his explanation for why their relationship fell apart. The Dutchman believes the Portuguese superstar has let both him and the team down, arguing that his position in football cannot be at the expense of collective responsibility.

In an interview with The Athletic, Ten Hag broke his silence on the relationship that soured during the 2022-23 season. Despite respecting Ronaldo’s extraordinary legacy, he said the striker’s approach to training and fitness made it difficult to build the team he wanted at Old Trafford.

“He let the team down and he let me down because we planned with him,” Ten Hag said. He revealed that he traveled to Portugal to discuss his vision with Ronaldo before taking over, but ultimately had to make a decision based on what he felt was best for the team.

“I confronted him about it. I say a lot of times, ‘Ronnie, everybody wants to work for you to get you in the right position, but if you can’t get to the box, you can’t score.’

RONALDO VS THE HAG: WHERE IT GOT WRONG

The collapse was striking given Ronaldo’s performance in his first season back. He scored 24 goals in all competitions in 2021–22, including 18 in the Premier League and six in the Champions League, finishing as United’s top scorer. He remained productive despite the club’s problems, but things changed dramatically under Ten Hag.

Ronaldo scored just three goals in 16 games in all competitions in 2022–23 before retiring in November 2022.

He only started four Premier League games that season. Tensions escalated after he refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham and left the stadium before the end of the game, before his explosive conversation with Piers Morgan led to his contract being terminated.

THE HAG SAYS THE MADRID CONNECTION DOESN’T SUIT UNITED

The Hag also questioned the influence of what he called the “Madrid connection”, referring to Ronaldo, Casemiro and Raphael Varane, all former Real Madrid stars who have enjoyed huge success in the Spanish capital.

“I can say that I think it brought a connection with Madrid, that the players are strong and want to make a decision. In my opinion, it didn’t suit the stage that United were in. The management wanted attacking, dynamic football and these players wanted to play what suits them,” he said.

The Hag wanted a team built around his tactical demands, while Ronaldo’s status and influence made the transition difficult. The striker’s goals in his first season showed what he still has to offer, but his second season revealed how quickly individual expectations and a manager’s vision can collide.

For The Hag, Ronaldo’s goals were never the full story. He wanted the Portuguese star to buy into his methods, but their relationship fell apart before the two sides could find common ground. Two years after his sacking, the former United boss has made it clear he still believes backing Ronaldo was the wrong choice.

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