Erik ten Hag renews his criticism of Cristiano Ronaldo, continuing a feud that began during their time together at Manchester United. Multiple outlets report that Ten Hag has “doubled down” on earlier remarks about Ronaldo’s attitude and work on the pitch, including questioning his readiness to press and his fitness and preparation.
The background is also consistent across coverage: Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford in 2021 for a second spell, while Ten Hag took over in summer 2022. Their relationship soured, and in November 2022 Ronaldo’s contract was terminated after Ronaldo criticised Ten Hag and the club.
Across outlets, the main differences are in emphasis and the immediacy of the reporting. The Athletic frames the comments in the context of Ten Hag watching his side win 9-0, while other outlets foreground the “fresh attack” and use stronger “feud” language. Metro and The Athletic also point to a specific rationale for Ten Hag’s criticism, rooted in preparation and the idea that a top player must work for the team, not just be positioned for chances.
