'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Several Manchester United players reportedly felt Cristiano Ronaldo was unnecessarily humiliated by Erik ten Hag due to a dressing room punishment. The Portuguese talisman briefly worked with Ten Hag during his second stint with the Red Devils between 2021 and 2022.
On October 28, the Red Devils management sacked Erik ten Hag following a 2-1 loss to West Ham in the Premier League that left them 14th in the table. Ten Hag had overseen only four wins in 13 games across competitions this season. In the Premier League, Manchester United have recorded only 11 points off nine games, winning only three times.
After taking over the helm at Old Trafford in 2022, Ten Hag managed Cristiano Ronaldo for around four months (August to November 2022). The Portuguese talisman's contract with the Red Devils was terminated after which he joined Saudi side Al-Nassr in December 2022. During the short stint, Ronaldo reportedly clashed with the Dutchman multiple times, especially after Ten Hag benched him in crucial games.
Trending
According to reports by ESPN, Erik ten Hag failed to connect with players during his stint at Manchester United. The report highlights an incident with Cristiano Ronaldo, which many in the squad considered unnecessary humiliation.
On October 2022, Ronaldo refused to come on as a substitute in a game against Tottenham Hotspur. Following his refusal, Ten Hag dropped him from the squad for the next game and he was instructed to train separately from the team. The aforementioned report details that Ronaldo was also not allowed to enter the dressing room as a punishment when he tried to retrieve a pair of trainers.
The Portuguese legend had to request an academy player to enter the dressing room to retrieve his belonging on his behalf. Multiple senior players were reportedly not on board with Ten Hag's punishment for Ronaldo during the incident.
"The coach didn't have respect for me" - When Cristiano Ronaldo criticized Erik ten Hag before Manchester United exit in 2022
In a bombshell interview with Piers Morgan in November 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo took digs at Erik ten Hag, amid reports of him clashing with the Dutchman. He said (via Sporting News):
"The coach didn't have respect for me. So this is why the relationship, it's in that way. He keep saying in the press that he come to me, he like me blah, blah, blah, but that is only for the press, 100 per cent. If you don’t have respect for me, I'm never going to have respect for you."
Ronaldo's interview came days before Manchester United officially terminated his contract, leading him to head to the Saudi Pro League. The legendary forward played only 16 games under Ten Hag, recording three goals and two assists across competitions. He featured in the starting 11 in only ten games across competitions.
Erik ten Hag won two titles with Manchester United in two seasons, namely the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup. He administered 72 wins in 128 games.
