Cristiano Ronaldo has launched a scathing attack on Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, criticizing his mindset and approach. The Portuguese forward, who left United on poor terms in 2022, believes the club needs to rebuild everything, including the manager.
Ronaldo’s criticism stems from United’s underwhelming performances under ten Hag. The Red Devils failed to qualify for the Champions League last season and have started the current Premier League campaign with two losses in three matches.
In an interview with Rio Ferdinand, Ronaldo said: “They need to rebuild everything, in my opinion. The coach, they say they cannot compete to win the 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.”
Ronaldo also suggested that ten Hag should seek assistance from Ruud van Nistelrooy, who recently joined United’s coaching staff. “If ten Hag listens to Ruud, maybe he can (help himself). I think it can help a lot because he knows the club and the club should listen (to) the guys who were there,” he said.
The 39-year-old superstar emphasized the importance of having former players with knowledge of the club involved in decision-making. “The people who understand the football, it was, 99 per cent is the people who were there in the dressing room. They know how to deal with the players. It’s the people who understand these things. So I believe that Ruud is going to help because he was inside the club. He knows the club. He knows the fans. If the coach listens to him, I think they can improve a little bit the club,” he said.
Ronaldo’s comments highlight the growing frustration among United fans over the club’s recent struggles. The Red Devils have spent heavily in the transfer market in recent years, but have failed to produce results on the field.