Ten Hag Reveals Training Rift With Ronaldo

Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has revisited his troubled relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo, alleging that the forward’s fitness, training habits and preparation fell short of the standards he expected during their time together at Old Trafford.

In an interview published on Tuesday, October 20, Ten Hag said he had initially planned to build a working relationship with Ronaldo and even travelled to Portugal before taking charge of United to explain his plans to the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. He said he was disappointed by what followed.

“He let the team down, and he let me down, because we planned with him,” Ten Hag said, while acknowledging Ronaldo’s standing as one of the greatest players in football history.

Ten Hag’s criticism centres on what he described as a lack of physical preparation and commitment to the team’s training requirements. He claimed Ronaldo sometimes withdrew from training exercises, failed to reach the required heart-rate levels and did not complete a running punishment imposed after Manchester United’s 4-0 defeat to Brentford in August 2022.

The Dutchman said he confronted Ronaldo about his contribution, arguing that teammates could create opportunities for the striker, but he also needed to be physically prepared to get into scoring positions. Ten Hag maintained that even a player of Ronaldo’s reputation had to meet the collective demands of the team.

He also alleged that Ronaldo encouraged some teammates to conserve their energy during training rather than push themselves to reach the required fitness levels. Ten Hag said elite clubs must support their leading players, but those players must also work for the team.

Ronaldo returned to Manchester United in August 2021, beginning his second spell at the club after previously winning three Premier League titles under Sir Alex Ferguson. He scored 24 goals in all competitions during his first season back, but his relationship with Ten Hag deteriorated after the Dutchman took charge in 2022.

The tension became public in October 2022 when Ronaldo refused to come on as a substitute during a Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur. He was subsequently disciplined by the club, and the relationship deteriorated further after he criticised United and Ten Hag in a televised interview.

His contract was terminated by mutual agreement in November 2022, bringing his second spell at Old Trafford to an abrupt end. Ronaldo later joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr in January 2023.

Ten Hag, who led United to third place in the Premier League in his first season and won the League Cup in 2023, was dismissed in October 2024. He has now offered a more detailed account of the breakdown in his relationship with Ronaldo, presenting the dispute as a question of professional standards and collective responsibility rather than the player’s reputation.

The former manager also discussed his own experience with United’s leadership, alleging that promises made to him by the club’s owners were not fulfilled before his dismissal. He cited disagreements over transfer decisions, including the sale of midfielder Scott McTominay, as a source of disappointment.

Ten Hag’s latest comments have reopened debate about the clash between Ronaldo’s status as a global football star and the demands placed on him by a manager seeking to impose a particular style of play. While Ten Hag has acknowledged Ronaldo’s achievements, he insists that reputation alone could not exempt a player from the team’s expectations.

The claims represent Ten Hag’s account of events during their time together at Manchester United. Ronaldo’s perspective on their relationship had previously been expressed in his own televised interview in 2022, when he said he did not respect the manager. The renewed exchange highlights how the disagreement that contributed to Ronaldo’s departure continues to shape discussion of his final months at Old Trafford.

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