Erik ten Hag has claimed Cristiano Ronaldo “let the team down” and “let me down” during their time together at Manchester United. In an interview with the Athletic, Ten Hag said he had respected Ronaldo as one of the best players in football history, but that he had to make a rational decision as manager and keep the players he admired.
The dispute centres on Ten Hag’s claim that Ronaldo did not complete the full run that players were set after United were beaten 4-0 by Brentford early in Ten Hag’s reign. Ten Hag said he confronted Ronaldo over the issue and told him: “Ronnie, everyone wants to work for you to bring you in the right position, but if you can’t bring yourself in the box, you can’t score.”
Ronaldo returned to United for a second spell in August 2021 and was already at the club when Ten Hag was appointed in April 2022 as Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s successor. Their relationship quickly broke down, with Ronaldo refusing to come on as a substitute in a win over Tottenham in October 2022 before he publicly criticised the club in a TV interview. Ronaldo’s contract was mutually terminated the following month.
Ten Hag also alleged that promises made by United’s owners when he discussed a new deal went unfulfilled. He said they promised loyalty, backing, communication and alignment, but did not keep those promises. He said he was left “embarrassed” and disappointed when Scott McTominay was sold to Napoli without his consent, having told the club not to sell the midfielder. Ten Hag was sacked by United in October 2024, only five months after winning the FA Cup and signing a contract extension.