Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has renewed his criticism of Cristiano Ronaldo, saying the Portuguese star has not been able to perform at the highest level for around seven or eight years.
Speaking to ESPN Netherlands, Ten Hag acknowledged Ronaldo’s stature before delivering a blunt verdict on his later career.
“In my opinion, Cristiano is undoubtedly a fantastic player and one of the greatest players of all time. But the truth is over the last seven or eight years, Cristiano has no longer been capable of performing at that level anymore,” he said.
“Effectively over” after Juventus move
Ten Hag pinpointed Ronaldo’s departure from Real Madrid as the turning point. “Ever since he was sold to Juventus, it was effectively over,” he said.
He praised the Spanish club’s approach to ageing stars. “In fact, Real Madrid’s greatest strength is that they always know the perfect time to part ways with a legendary player,” he said.
Old Trafford talks
Recalling his time at United, the Dutchman said he had set out his plans to Ronaldo from the start. “When I started at Man United, I’ve explained to Cristiano the style of play we intended to adopt, his role in the team, what I expected from him, what he could expect from me and more,” he said.
“But ultimately, you have to bring something to the table. As I mentioned, Cristiano no longer had the ability to endure the hard work required.”
“No chance of succeeding”
Ten Hag said the demands went beyond tactics. “That means pushing himself to his absolute limits every day, training at maximum intensity, and maintaining peak physical fitness. That was absolutely crucial in Premier League,” he said.
“And if you’re not in peak physical condition, whether in the Premier League, the Champions League, or with Portuguese national team, you simply have no chance of succeeding.”
