Ronaldo’s Struggles Under Ten Hag’s Manchester United Regime

omidbasir- Cristiano Ronaldo, a player with an illustrious career, found it challenging to accept his role as a secondary figure in Erik Ten Hag’s squad at Manchester United. Ten Hag, who successfully implemented a high-energy and pressing tactical approach at Ajax, sought to replicate this in Manchester, a style of play that Ronaldo had never been asked to adopt. This divergence led to a strained relationship between the player and manager, as revealed by Steve McClaren, Ten Hag’s assistant.

In an interview on ‘The Good, The Bad and The Football Podcast,’ McClaren acknowledged the intense dynamics during training sessions. He recounted, “There were numerous confrontations on the training field. Erik’s coaching style was clear: ‘Ronnie, this is your job.’ He emphasized that all he required from Ronaldo was to be the first to press, to make a couple of runs, and to recover back into position in case they regained possession.

“If he could not fulfill these expectations, he simply would not play. Erik was unwavering in his approach; many managers might compromise, but Erik stood firm, maintaining that Ronaldo must adapt, or he would remain on the sidelines.

“It was a bit of a standoff to see who would prevail. Erik remained resolute, a quality not commonly found among managers who often seek to accommodate star players.”

Following Ronaldo’s departure and subsequent move to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, he again expressed criticism towards Manchester United. On the ‘Rio Ferdinand Presents’ podcast, he remarked, “As the Manchester United coach, one cannot declare an inability to compete for the League or the Champions League. You must maintain a mindset of striving for success, even if the potential seems limited. You have to try.”

Ten Hag was ultimately dismissed and replaced by Ruben Amorim, who also faced a similar fate. Meanwhile, Ronaldo has encountered difficulties in securing silverware in the Middle East, although Al-Nassr is currently competing strongly in the Saudi Pro League, despite rival Al-Hilal acquiring his former teammate Karim Benzema.

In the interim, Michael Carrick has stepped in as manager at Old Trafford until the season’s conclusion. Presently, Manchester United is on track to qualify for the Champions League, despite being absent from European competitions this term.