“I couldn’t fault his approach” - Ex-Manchester United coach backs Erik Ten Hag’s decision on Cristiano Ronaldo who ‘didn't meet set standards’
Former Manchester United assistant manager Steve McClaren has backed Erik ten Hag over the handling of Cristiano Ronaldo. He claimed the Portuguese star did not meet the standards at the club and the Dutch boss was right to bench him.
In an interview with The Telegraph, McClaren hinted Ronaldo was not following the rules set by the manager nor playing the way he was asked to do on the pitch. He added Ten Hag wanted his players to run, but the Real Madrid legend was not interested in listening to him.
“I couldn’t fault his approach. He really handled it very well. I said at the time he was the right man to go in. That was shown in the way he handled [the departure of Cristiano] Ronaldo. He [Ten Hag] came in with set standards. Set rules. Set way of playing. And if you didn’t run, you didn’t play. He was rigid on that. Which the Dutch are. He knew that was what was needed. There could be no flexibility, no way the players could manoeuvre [out of that responsibility]," he said.
“This is what you had to do – or you didn’t play. And he took on Ronaldo, and quite rightly. Other managers have tried to adapt. Erik didn’t feel it was necessary to do that. [Ralf] Rangnick had tried and it hadn’t quite worked out and Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] the same. So he [Ten Hag] stuck to his guns and developed other players," McClaren added.
Steve McClaren joined Erik ten Hag at Manchester United as an assistant manager after being in the same role under Sir Alex Ferguson in the early 2000s.
Cristiano Ronaldo hit out at Erik ten Hag before Manchester United exit
Cristiano Ronaldo told Piers Morgan in 2022 that he had no respect for Erik ten Hag. He claimed the Manchester United manager never showed him any respect as well and added via ESPN:
"I don't have respect for him [Ten Hag] because he doesn't show respect for me. If you don't have respect for me, I'm never gonna have respect for you."
Cristiano Ronaldo added the club tried to force him out in the summer, saying:
"Manchester United tried to force me out. Not only the manager, but the other two or three guys who are around the club [at the senior executive level]. I felt betrayed. I don't care, people should listen to the truth. Yes, I felt betrayed. I feel that some people didn't want me here, not only this year but last season too."
Manchester United eventually terminated Cristiano Ronaldo's contract after the interview. He went on to join Al Nassr on a free transfer after the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.