Cristiano Ronaldo has hinted that Manchester United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, has a negative attitude. The Portuguese forward had a falling out with Ten Hag before his second stint at Old Trafford ended in 2022. Ronaldo, now playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, believes the club needs to “rebuild from the bottom,” but says that doesn’t mean they should give up on winning big trophies during the process.
Ten Hag, on the other hand, is optimistic about Manchester United’s future success. After winning the Carabao Cup and FA Cup in recent seasons, the Dutch manager said in July that he is “quite confident” about winning more silverware. However, he also admitted the team is still far from ready to win the Premier League.
“Manchester needs to rebuild everything, in my opinion,” Ronaldo said during an episode of the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, which is set to release on Thursday. “The coach says they can’t compete to win the league or Champions League. But as a Manchester United coach, you cannot say that. You have to try to win, even if you think you don’t have the potential. You need to have the mentality to fight.”
United started the season with a 1-0 victory over Fulham, but then suffered back-to-back defeats against Brighton and Liverpool before the international break.
Ronaldo added, “This club needs time to rebuild because it’s still one of the best in the world, but they need to make changes. They understand this. That’s why they’re starting to change things, like the club structure, the president, and the infrastructure. Even the club’s owners. I believe the future will be bright, but it’s not just about talent. The whole club needs to unite and rebuild from the bottom. If they don’t, it will be impossible to compete at the highest level.”
He continued, “Yes, they can win smaller trophies like the Carabao Cup, but in terms of the Champions League, Europa League, or Premier League, it will be difficult. And I hope I’m wrong, but that’s my opinion.”
After leaving United, Ronaldo felt “betrayed” and stated that he did not respect Ten Hag because the manager did not show him respect. However, the 39-year-old told Rio Ferdinand that he still has love for the club.
“I’m not happy with how everything happened, but sometimes we can’t control certain things in life. It’s done now. I’ve said what I needed to say, and for me, it’s over.”
“But to be honest, I want the best for Manchester United, just like I want the best for myself. I want them to become the best team they can be, and I love that club. I’m not the type of person who forgets the past.”
