Cristiano Ronaldo has expressed criticism of Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, stating that the club needs to “rebuild everything” to regain its competitive edge in football. Ronaldo’s remarks were made during an upcoming episode of the “Rio Ferdinand Presents” podcast, set to release on Thursday.
The former Manchester United forward questioned Ten Hag’s mindset, referencing the coach’s stance on the team’s current capabilities. “The coach says they cannot compete to win the [Premier] League and Champions League,” Ronaldo said. “As Manchester United coach, you cannot say that you’re not going to fight to win the league or Champions League.”
Ronaldo, who played for United in two separate stints, also emphasized the importance of maintaining a winning mentality, saying, “Mentally [you can] say maybe we don’t have that potential, but I cannot say that. We’re going to try, you have to try.”
Ronaldo had two successful periods at Manchester United, first from 2003 to 2009, when he won three Premier League titles, the Champions League, two League Cups, an FA Cup, the FIFA Club World Cup, and the Community Shield. He returned to the club from Juventus in August 2021, scoring 145 goals in 346 appearances before leaving for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr in December 2022.
His departure from the club followed a controversial interview with Piers Morgan, in which Ronaldo claimed he was being “betrayed” by the club and forced out. Reflecting on the club’s trajectory after Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, Ronaldo said there had been “no evolution.”
Manchester United has struggled since Ferguson’s departure, failing to win a Premier League title. Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe recently acquired a 25% stake in the club, with his Ineos group taking control of football operations. Ronaldo expressed hope for the future, acknowledging the club’s efforts to rebuild. “They need to rebuild everything, in my opinion… The club needs time to rebuild because it’s still one of the best clubs in the world, but they need to change.”
Ronaldo also praised the decision to bring Ruud van Nistelrooy, another former teammate, into Ten Hag’s coaching staff, suggesting that his knowledge could benefit the club. “If Ten Hag listens to Ruud, maybe he can [help himself].” Ronaldo stressed the importance of having experienced voices like Van Nistelrooy, Rio Ferdinand, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, or Sir Alex Ferguson involved in the rebuilding process.
While Ronaldo remains critical of the club’s current state, he expressed optimism that with the right changes, Manchester United could regain its position among the world’s top clubs.
