Cristiano Ronaldo has criticized Erik ten Hag’s approach as overly pessimistic, suggesting that the Manchester United manager should still aim for the Premier League title despite the club needing a major rebuild. The Portugal international, now playing for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, had a falling out with Ten Hag before his second stint at Old Trafford concluded in late 2022.
Cristiano Ronaldo feels that while his former club requires significant changes, Ten Hag should not dismiss the possibility of winning major trophies in the interim. After lifting the League Cup and FA Cup over the past two seasons, the Dutchman has said he is “quite confident” of claiming more silverware this campaign. But he said in July that his team was a “long way away” from being ready to win the Premier League, which they had not won since Alex Ferguson’s final season in charge in 2013.
What Cristiano Ronaldo Said
“Manchester, they need to rebuild everything, in my opinion,” Cristiano Ronaldo said in an episode of the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, due to be released on Thursday. “The coach, they say they cannot compete to win the league and Champions League. Manchester United coach, you cannot say that you’re not going to fight to win the league or Champions League.”
“You have to be, to mentally say, listen, maybe we don’t have that potential, but I cannot say that. We’re going to try. You have to try.” United upset Manchester City in the FA Cup final in May but they endured their worst Premier League campaign last term, finishing eighth, and the 20-time English champions have lost two of their opening three matches this season.”
“This club needs time to rebuild because it’s still one of the best clubs in the world, but they need to change,” Cristiano Ronaldo said. “They understand that. This is the only way. This is why they show they have started to change again, the structure of the club, the president, the infrastructure, and everything. The owners of the club.”
Ronaldo on Ten Hag & Manchester United’s Bright Future
British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe completed his purchase of a minority stake in the club in February and has since overseen major changes in the club hierarchy after taking control of football operations. “I believe that the future will be bright,” said Cristiano Ronaldo. “I believe, but they don’t depend only on the talents. It’s more than that. It’s all club, all, not only players, club, everything as a unit, united.
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who spent six seasons with United earlier in his career, scored 27 goals in 54 appearances during his second spell at Old Trafford after signing from Juventus in 2021. “They have to rebuild from the bottom. If not, they cannot compete. It will be impossible.”
Following his exit just over a year later, he claimed he felt “betrayed” while saying of Ten Hag: “I don’t have respect for him because he doesn’t show respect for me.” However, the 39-year-old Portuguese said he still loves the club.
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