“He ran neither with the ball nor without it”: Erik ten Hag turns on Cristiano Ronaldo

Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag reflected on his time at the club in an interview with The Athletic, criticizing Cristiano Ronaldo's work rate. Ten Hag stated that Ronaldo disappointed the team because he ran neither with nor without the ball due to a lack of preparation. He also claimed that the club's management broke promises regarding loyalty, support, and communication before his October 2024 dismissal.

Ten Hag criticized Manchester United's internal culture for empowering players too much and cited the handling of Marcus Rashford as an example. He also expressed regret over the sale of midfielder Scott McTominay, whom he wanted to keep. Despite these grievances, Ten Hag highlighted winning the League Cup and the 2024 FA Cup at Wembley as major achievements during his tenure.