Ten Hag Criticises Ronaldo’s Poor Impact During His Final United Season

Cristiano Ronaldo rejoined Manchester United from Juventus at the age of 36 in the summer of 2021, during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s managerial tenure.

During Erik ten Hag’s spell, Ronaldo managed only three goals in sixteen appearances before his departure in the 2022‑23 season.

“It’s a mischaracterisation to suggest I expected him to press, thinking he was exhausted,” ten Hag said. “He simply couldn’t. He didn’t run either in or out of possession, and the reason was his lack of preparation.”

“Every top team has to embrace the top player, but the top player has to work for the team.”

He told players to ‘save their legs’ during training. He explained that when you’re at peak fitness you can have sessions where you conserve energy, but first you must train yourself to reach the appropriate fitness levels.

The interview follows Ronaldo’s recent 30‑day suspension and €255 (£215) fine from the Portuguese Football Federation after he left the national team camp last month.

Ten Hag was dismissed by Manchester United in October 2024, having secured the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024.

Reflecting on his time at Old Trafford, ten Hag said he had targeted Frenkie de Jong, Harry Kane and Declan Rice for signing, and opposed the sale of Scott McTominay to Napoli in August 2024.

“For the first season I said, ‘centre‑half, there’s a problem; centre‑midfield, there’s a problem; and especially I need a strategist, then we need goals.’ And that was the biggest issue in all my three years: goals,” ten Hag said.

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