Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has sparked controversy with fresh comments about Cristiano Ronaldo performances during his second spell at Old Trafford.
The Dutchman claimed that the Portuguese superstar could no longer deliver at the highest level when they worked together at Old Trafford. Ten Hag made the remarks during an interview with ESPN, revisiting the breakdown of his relationship with Ronaldo during the 2022/23 season.
He said,
"When I started the job at Man United, I explained to Cristiano Ronaldo the style of play we intended to adopt. But ultimately, you have to bring something to the table yourself… and he no longer had the ability to endure the hard work required. That means pushing himself to his absolute limits every day, training at maximum intensity, and maintaining peak physical fitness”.
He insisted that although Ronaldo remains one of the greatest players in football history, his performances and physical condition had declined by the time he returned to Manchester United from Juventus in 2021. Ten Hag explained that individual quality must be accompanied by a willingness to work for the team.
He acknowledged that Ronaldo's teammates admired and respected him but argued that the forward was no longer able to meet the demands of elite football. According to him, Ronaldo's decline had begun during his time at Juventus, adding that Real Madrid had demonstrated good judgement by allowing him to leave before his performances dropped significantly.
The former United manager also questioned Ronaldo's ability to maintain the physical intensity required in the Premier League, claiming that the forward struggled to push himself to the necessary level in training.
What happened between Ten Hag and Cristiano Ronaldo?
The relationship between Ten Hag and Ronaldo deteriorated during the 2022/23 campaign after the Portuguese forward became frustrated with his reduced playing time. The situation escalated in October 2022 when Ronaldo refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur and subsequently left the dugout before the final whistle.
Ten Hag responded by dropping him from the squad for Manchester United's next match.
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