Cristiano Ronaldo and Erik ten Hag didn’t have the smoothest relationship during the Dutch coach’s first season at Manchester United, and after Ten Hag’s departure, details about their conflicts surfaced.
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From the start of his tenure, Ten Hag indicated that Ronaldo would not play a central role in his plans due to the player’s age and limited pressing ability…Continue Reading
Ronaldo’s presence became challenging for the team’s setup, prompting Ten Hag, formerly with Ajax, to often keep the forward on the bench.
Ronaldo, proud of his accomplishments and with a strong personality, was displeased with this treatment, and tensions peaked when he refused to enter as a substitute during a game against Tottenham at Old Trafford.
According to ESPN’s Rob Dawson, most of the United players agreed that Ronaldo was in the wrong, but, after winning the battle of wills initially, it is believed that “many within the club soon started to think Ten Hag had taken the punishment of the superstar too far.”
The former Real Madrid star was initially asked to train separately from the main squad. When he attempted to enter the dressing room to retrieve a pair of trainers, staff informed him that he wasn’t allowed inside.
Ronaldo ultimately had to ask an academy player to retrieve his shoes, a situation that many senior players felt was an unnecessary embarrassment.
This conflict with Ronaldo reached a peak when he gave a highly publicized interview with Piers Morgan before eventually moving to Saudi Arabia midway through the 2022/23 season.
Ronaldo’s response to being left out of Ten Hag’s plans was seen as unprofessional and somewhat immature, though many agree the punishment went too far.
For any player, especially one of Ronaldo’s stature, being barred from the dressing room was humiliating.
It seems Ten Hag took a firm stance from the start, which likely played a role in the breakdown of their relationship.
