Erik ten Hag responds to Cristiano Ronaldo's comments on Manchester United rebuilding
Erik ten Hag has issued a defiant response to Cristiano Ronaldo after claiming Manchester United need a rebuild.
Portuguese legend Ronaldo He played for The Premier League Giants in two periods, the second of which ended unceremoniously at the end of 2022.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner sat down in an explosive interview with Piers Morgan in which he criticised Ten Hag and the Glazer family.
Nearly two years after his comments, Ronaldo has now revealed his belief that United… It is necessary to “rebuild everything” to return to its former glory.
Ten Hag has since responded to the striker, but was also keen to stress that Ronaldo's comments were related to winning the Premier League.
“He said Manchester United can't win the Premier League. No, he did say that if you read the article properly,” Ten Hag said at his press conference ahead of United's weekend trip to Southampton. Live on talkSPORT.
“It's far away, in Saudi Arabia, far from Manchester. Everyone can and is entitled to have an opinion, that's fine.”
Ten Hag has led United to two trophies in two seasons at the club, first winning the Carabao Cup last year before lifting the FA Cup in May.
Following this, the Dutchman agreed to extend his contract at Old Trafford until 2026 despite speculation about his departure.
Speaking at the end of August, he said he was confident United would continue to win trophies: “In the last two years we have won, behind (Manchester) City, the most trophies in English football.
“That's the reality. These are the facts. This year we want to win. We want to win trophies. I have full confidence that we will achieve that.”
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However, United have endured another difficult start to the season, having won just one of three Premier League games.
Ten Hag's side narrowly beat Fulham 1-0 on the opening weekend before falling to a 2-1 defeat away to Brighton.
Their bitter rivals Liverpool beat them 3-0 at Old Trafford before the international break, leaving United 14th in the table.
Asked whether the club was on the right track or not, Ten Hag added: “We'll see where we are in May next year.
“We are very early in the season and it is about winning trophies, being as high as possible in the league, doing everything possible to win every game and then we will see in May where we are in the league.”
As well as new signings including Matthijs de Ligt and Manuel Ugarte, Ten Hag has also been boosted by the arrival of United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy to his coaching staff.
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Ronaldo played alongside the striker on 91 occasions for the club and believes he can help their rise to the top of English and European football.
“If Ten Hag listens to Ruud, maybe he can (help improve the club). I think he can help a lot because he knows the club and the club should listen to the guys who were there.
“You[Rio Ferdinand]or Roy Keane or Paul Scholes or Gary Neville, whoever, Sir Alex Ferguson. You can’t rebuild a club without knowledge. Not the guys who work in the office. They understand.
“I understand a lot about football because I watch football on television every day. The people who understand football were 99 percent of the people who were in the locker room, who were players, who were the most successful coaches in the world.
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(Pep) Guardiola, Ferguson, they were players before, they were in the dressing room. They understand it. They know how to treat players. It's the people who understand these things.
“I think Ruud will help because he was inside the club. He knows the club. He knows the fans. If the coach listens to him, I think they can improve the club a little bit.”
