Cristiano Ronaldo slams Erik ten Hag as he makes bombshell Man Utd claim (original) (raw)

Cristiano Ronaldo has claimed that Erik ten Hag "doesn't understand" Manchester United as he called for a rebuild and challenged the manager's decision to temper expectations

Erik ten Hag was quick to get rid of Cristiano Ronaldo in Manchester

Cristiano Ronaldo insists Erik ten Hag CANNOT lead [Manchester United](http://Manchester United) back to the Premier League title: "You can't rebuild a club you don't understand."

Ronaldo saw his time at Old Trafford ended in late 2022 when he was snubbed by Ten Hag and has offered his take on the Dutchman's turbulent tenure since. Ten Hag ended United's wait for silverware when he claimed the Carabao Cup just months after Ronaldo's contract was terminated.

Last season Ten Hag won the FA Cup at Wembley, masterminding a shock victory over Manchester City, but it failed to cover for a horrendous league campaign that saw United finish eighth. The Dutchman's methods and signings have been heavily criticised as the owners weighed up a managerial change.

Ten Hag retained his role but has begun the season by losing two of the three games - including a home drubbing at the hands of Liverpool. Ronaldo believes his former side need to rip up the script and criticised Ten Hag for playing down the club's potential and their ambitions.

He told the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast: “Manchester United, they need to rebuild everything, in my opinion. The coach, they say they cannot compete to win the Premier 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.'"

Ten Hag has defended his tenure by citing the trophies he's delivered, but the jury remains out on the former Ajax boss after more than two years. He quickly benched Ronaldo when he arrived and only used him sporadically before the Portugal icon laid bare his frustrations with Piers Morgan.

Erik ten Hag has struggled to change the club's fortunes (

Image:

Manchester United via Getty Imag)

One of Ronaldo's former team-mates in Ruud van Nistelrooy is back in Manchester in a coaching capacity having previously been in charge at PSV. The 39-year-old believes the former striker can aid United's rebuild if Ten Hag opts to lean on him - claiming the current manager "doesn't understand" the Red Devils and needs to lean on ex-players.

"If Ten Hag listens to Ruud, maybe he can help the club," he said. "I think he can help a lot. And the club should listen to the players who played there. You [Rio Ferdinand] or Roy Keane or Paul Scholes or Gary Neville, whoever it is, Sir Alex Ferguson.

"You can't rebuild a club you don't understand."

Listen to the full Rio Meets Cristiano interview on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. RioFerdinandPresents.com

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