Erik ten Hag was particularly scathing when speaking about Cristiano Ronaldo in an interview with *The Athletic*. The Dutch coach, who was in charge from 2022 to 2024, had traveled to Portugal before taking over at United to build the team around CR7, but his behavior disappointed him.
“He let the team down and disappointed me, since we had made our plans counting on him,” Ten Hag said, also expressing complaints about Cristiano’s behavior during training sessions. “I often told him: ‘Ronny, everyone wants to work for you so you can get into the right position, but if you can’t get into the box yourself, you can’t score.’ He wasn’t able to do that. He didn’t run, neither when the team had the ball nor when it didn’t. The reason was that he hadn’t prepared himself,” he emphasized.
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For a player renowned for his hard work and for often doing extra training after the regular session ended, this criticism is striking. “Every top team has to adapt to its best player, but the best player also has to work for the team. And for some, United wasn’t the top priority,” Ten Hag added in a sharp tone.
At the same time, he harshly criticized United’s management, blaming it for the team’s poor seasons over the past many years. “You need competent management and the right strategy. What is your identity? What are your working methods? You need the right structures and quality people. And then, it takes time,” he emphasized, defending Michael Carrick, who has come under intense scrutiny. “Firing Carrick is not the solution. Under no circumstances. The fans may demand it if the results don’t improve—it’s a reaction rooted in emotion, in instinct. However, decisions must be made rationally. He demonstrated remarkable coaching abilities at Middlesbrough, as well as last season. So let him continue on his path. I believe he has a good staff,” he noted.
However, he makes no secret of the fact that he’s still a United fan. “I enjoyed every minute there; I have such wonderful memories. I feel there’s a connection. I’m a fan of the team. They’re an amazing crowd; they always treated me with respect. I really want United to win. I want them to return to success. I want the club to get back to where it once was.”
*photo source: AP
