After saying Manchester United were not fit to challenge for the Premier League title, Erik ten Hag was criticised by Cristiano Ronaldo. The Dutch coach responded to his former player on Thursday.
Having left Manchester United in November 2022, after his contract was terminated, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to make headlines at the Manchester club. During a podcast with Rio Ferdinand, also a former Old Trafford star, the Portuguese striker attacked Erik ten Hag. The Dutch coach responded to him this Thursday.
“Manchester United have to rebuild everything in my opinion,” Cristiano Ronaldo had first said. “The coach says they can’t compete to win the Premier League and the Champions League. You can’t say that if you’re the coach of Manchester United. You have to be able to say to yourself ‘listen, maybe we don’t have that potential but I can’t say that’. You have to try.”
“Everyone can have an opinion”
Having arrived on the Manchester United bench in the summer of 2022, Erik ten Hag responded to his former player. The coach had repeatedly put “CR7” on the bench, who had said he felt betrayed by the club, which led to his departure. “He is far away in Saudi Arabia, far away from Manchester, so everyone can have an opinion and has the right to have it. It doesn’t matter,” ten Hag responded.
With the Red Devils, Erik ten Hag won the League Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup last season. In the Premier League, after a first season punctuated by third place, ten Hag’s Manchester United finished eighth. “We will see where we are in May, it is still too early this season,” added the coach. “It is about winning trophies, being as high as possible in the championship and doing everything to win every game.”
Erik ten Hag also said he was not affected by the rumours surrounding his future, as he is under contract until 2026. “I have already said that we are still in a transition period and that we have to integrate a lot of young players into the team. We still have to deal with injuries and bring players back,” ten Hag warned. “Before anyone thinks of excuses, no, we have to win every game. I know that, the team knows that and it doesn’t matter who is available.”
