Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said Cristiano Ronaldo was no longer performing at the level required by the Premier League during their time together at the club, according to comments reported by ESPN.
Ten Hag Questions Ronaldo’s Fitness and Commitment at Old Trafford
Ten Hag stated that he does not believe the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was in shape or sufficiently committed following his departure from Juventus in 2021. Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford that year under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before Ten Hag took charge, scoring 27 goals in 54 total appearances across his second stint with the club.
The Dutch manager argued that the widely held perception of Ronaldo’s unmatched dedication to pushing his physical boundaries “is not entirely true, but that is the image he projects.” Ten Hag explained that the forward could no longer push through physical pain or maintain the rigorous training intensity required for modern English and European football.
“He could no longer endure the pain, give everything every day, and train at maximum capacity to get into shape,” Ten Hag told ESPN NL. “And if you are not fit for the Premier League, the Champions League, or the Portuguese national team, then simply you have no chance.”
Clashing Philosophies and the Real Madrid Comparison
Relations between the manager and the player deteriorated during the 2022–23 campaign as Ten Hag frequently left the Portuguese star out of his starting lineup. The situation culminated in November 2022 when Ronaldo gave a televised interview to Piers Morgan stating he felt betrayed by the coach, prompting Manchester United to rescind his contract.
Reflecting on roster management at elite clubs, Ten Hag pointed to Real Madrid as a model for knowing precisely when to part ways with aging superstars before their on-field output dips. He suggested that Ronaldo’s peak production had concluded years prior, noting that from Juventus onwards, everything is finished.
“In the last seven or eight years, he simply no longer performs,” Ten Hag said. “From Juventus onwards, it is finished.” And that is precisely the great gift of Real Madrid: they always know when to say goodbye to players at the exact right moment.
Team Dynamics and Current Standings
Ten Hag emphasized that team success supersedes any individual player, drawing a comparison to Lionel Messi’s relationship with the Argentina national team.
“No one is more important than a club or a country,” Ten Hag said. “Not even Cristiano Ronaldo nor Messi. In the end, the team always comes first.”
Ten Hag was dismissed by Manchester United in October 2023 after nine matches of the Premier League season, with the club sitting 14th in the standings. He noted that he retains no resentment toward the club or its supporters following his departure, explaining that the fans always supported him through those fantastic moments in the FA Cup and League Cup finals, and he clarified during an interview with The Athletic last month that he had permission to give interviews as long as they did not harm the club.
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