- Man United’s manager, Ten Hag has a history of hitting back at critics but chose a diplomatic approach with Legend Ronaldo
- The tension between the two began during Ronaldo’s 2022 interview with Piers Morgan
- The United boss claimed that external criticism doesn't affect him, but results will speak louder
Erik ten Hag has made it a habit to respond firmly when he believes criticism is unfair. Whether it's shutting down journalists during press conferences or dismissing pundit commentary from the likes of Jamie Carragher and Alan Shearer as "subjective" or "stupid," Ten Hag has built a reputation for standing his ground. But this time, facing recent comments from Cristiano Ronaldo, a world-class superstar and club legend, the Manchester United manager chose a take things a bit more cool.
Taking on the likes of Carragher or Shearer can be a win-win for Ten Hag, as United fans are more than happy to see their manager stand up to critics from rival clubs, but Ronaldo is not just an ordinary pundit.
The strained relationship between the Portuguese legend and Ten Hag reached a boiling point during Ronaldo’s infamous interview with Piers Morgan in 2022, where he revealed he had "no respect" for his manager during his second stint at the club.
Now, with fresh remarks during a chat with Rio Ferdinand, Ronaldo took aim once again at Ten Hag, adding fuel to a fire that had barely cooled.
These comments circulated quickly during the international break, Ten Hag, with two losses in United’s opening three Premier League fixtures, knew that his critics were sharpening their knives.
When it was time for his pre-match press conference ahead of the Southampton fixture, the Dutchman most likely anticipated the ‘Ronaldo question’ would arise and seemed ready for it.
Sure enough, after addressing questions about his squad’s readiness, Ten Hag was asked about the recent remarks from his former player. On this occasion, rather than offering a combative response like he always does, Ten Hag chose to be diplomatic.
Sparring with Ronaldo, a figure revered by many United fans despite his troubled second spell, could have further alienated supporters already feeling frustrated after the loss to Liverpool was a smart move by the Dutch coach.
Ten Hag carefully dissected Ronaldo’s statement, responding to only a specific detail,
“He said that Manchester United can’t win the Premier League. He said this if you read the article very well. He’s far away in Saudi, far away from Manchester. Everyone can have an opinion. It’s okay.”
For now, Ronaldo will likely remain out of the Premier League spotlight as he returns to Saudi Arabia, while Ten Hag will switch focus to working on Manchester United’s embarrasing start to the season.
Community Shield Preview: 3 things to note as Man United take on Man City in derby final
Previously, TheRadar reported that Wembley Stadium would once again host its traditional curtain-raiser, the Community Shield match, signalling the return of English football today, August 10. The anticipation for the Premier League is building and fans are already excited.
The 117th FA Community Shield features a rematch of May’s FA Cup final, pitting Manchester City against Manchester United in a Manchester derby with significant implications.
