Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has claimed that Cristiano Ronaldo was not properly prepared for matches during their spell together at the club.
In a revealing interview with The Athletic, the Dutch coach shed light on why he had concerns about the Portuguese striker’s contributions.
Ten Hag explains his issues with Ronaldo
According to Ten Hag, discussions with the player often revolved around the need for Ronaldo to be more active in the penalty area and to make better use of the opportunities created by his teammates.
“I spoke to him about this,” Ten Hag revealed.
The manager highlighted that the team was making efforts to deliver the ball to Ronaldo in advantageous positions, yet the striker didn’t consistently take up the necessary positions to finish the attacks.
Ten Hag also dismissed any notion that he was demanding excessive pressing from the Portuguese, which he allegedly could not sustain.
“He wasn’t running at all, with or without the ball. The reason was that he didn’t prepare properly,” the Dutchman asserted.
The fallout at Manchester United
The relationship between Ten Hag and Ronaldo began to deteriorate rapidly in 2022 following the former's appointment as manager of Manchester United.
The forward missed the team’s pre-season tour amid reports of his desire to leave the club. He later refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham and left the stadium before the final whistle.
In response, Ten Hag sidelined the forward for the next match. By November 2022, Ronaldo famously aired his grievances in an interview with Piers Morgan, stating that he felt betrayed by the club and had no respect for the manager.
Eventually, Manchester United announced a mutual parting of ways with the forward shortly thereafter.
Ronaldo's exit concludes their collaboration
During Ten Hag's tenure, Ronaldo featured in 16 matches, scoring three goals. Their collaborative effort ended amid a public fallout that captured significant attention in the footballing world.
Since then, the Portuguese star has continued his career outside of English football, while Ten Hag has moved on to manage at other clubs.
Now, the Dutch boss has returned to reflect on their professional relationship, citing Ronaldo’s lack of preparation as a key factor behind the issues on the pitch.
