Ten Hag Says Ronaldo ‘Let the Team Down’ at Manchester United
The Ten Hag Ronaldo let team down row has reopened four years after their Manchester United split, with former manager Erik ten Hag saying Cristiano Ronaldo “let the team down, and he let me down” during the Portuguese star’s second stint at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag made the claim in an interview with The Athletic published on Tuesday. He blamed Ronaldo’s lack of fitness and preparation for the forward’s struggles under him in the 2022-23 season.
“He let the team down, and he let me down, because we planned with him,” Ten Hag said. The Dutchman revealed he had flown to Portugal to discuss his plans with Ronaldo before taking the United job in 2022.
Ten Hag on Ronaldo: ‘let the team down’ after one goal in ten games
Ronaldo won three Premier League titles under Sir Alex Ferguson before leaving United for Real Madrid in 2009, returning to Old Trafford in 2021. His second spell collapsed under Ten Hag.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner scored once in ten league appearances in the 2022-23 season before leaving the club in November 2022. Ten Hag said he had confronted the player about his performance.
“Many times I say, ‘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.’ He was not capable to do this,” Ten Hag said.
Fitness and preparation under fire
Ten Hag, who was sacked by United in 2024, said Ronaldo failed to meet the team’s fitness and training standards. He claimed the forward sometimes withdrew from training sessions and did not reach the required heart rate levels.
He recalled the aftermath of United’s 4-0 defeat to Brentford in August 2022, when players were made to run laps as punishment. According to Ten Hag, Ronaldo completed only two of the three laps.
“It’s the wrong idea to put this to me that I expected him to do the pressing, that he’s exhausted. But he couldn’t. He ran neither in possession nor out of possession. The reason was because he didn’t prepare himself,” the former manager said.
“Every top team has to embrace the top player, but the top player has to work for the team,” he added.
Ten Hag, who guided United to a third-place league finish in 2022-23, said he had to make a rational selection decision. “Obviously, he’s one of the best in football history. I respected him a lot. But at that time, as a manager, I had to make a rational decision,” he said.
What it means for Ronaldo’s present
Ronaldo joined Saudi club Al-Nassr in December 2022 and scored 14 league goals in 16 appearances before the end of that season. The Saudi Pro League move gave the forward a fresh stage, and his goalscoring form there contrasted sharply with his final months at United.
The interview lands at a difficult moment for the 41-year-old. Ronaldo was handed a 30-day suspension and a fine by the Portuguese football federation on Monday after leaving the national team camp following a rift with coach Jorge Jesus over his role in the side.
Reuters, which first reported the Athletic interview, noted that Ronaldo’s representatives had been contacted for comment. The forward, Portugal’s all-time leading scorer with 146 goals, is 19 goals short of 1,000 in his career.
For Pakistani football fans, the saga remains compelling viewing. The Premier League commands a large following in the country, and Ronaldo’s Saudi chapter keeps him in prime time for the region’s audience. Elsewhere in English football, Marc Guehi has urged calm at Manchester City, while James Maddison’s Coventry move has drawn attention, and Lionel Messi continues to produce decisive performances for Inter Miami.
Frequently asked questions
What did Ten Hag say about Ronaldo?
In an interview with The Athletic published on Tuesday, Erik ten Hag said Cristiano Ronaldo “let the team down, and he let me down” during his second stint at Manchester United, blaming the forward’s fitness and preparation.
How many goals did Ronaldo score under Ten Hag?
Ronaldo scored once in ten Premier League appearances in the 2022-23 season before leaving Manchester United in November 2022.
Why did Ronaldo leave Manchester United?
Ronaldo’s relationship with Ten Hag deteriorated during the Dutchman’s first months in charge in 2022. After a public falling out, the two sides agreed to terminate his contract, and he joined Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr in December 2022.
What is Ronaldo’s current situation with Portugal?
The Portuguese football federation handed Ronaldo a 30-day suspension and a fine on Monday after he left the national team camp following a rift with coach Jorge Jesus.
