Erik ten Hag: Ronaldo couldn't adapt to Premier League intensity, his decline began at Juventus

Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag recently appeared on the Dutch program "Goedemorgen Eredivisie," where he reflected on his coaching experience in England and discussed his working relationship with Ronaldo in particular. He explained why the relationship became strained, saying that Ronaldo could no longer meet the physical demands and running intensity of the Premier League. Ten Hag also spoke about how he approached managing the relationship and how he really feels after leaving Manchester United.

Letschert (guest): What was your biggest challenge during your time at Manchester United? Was it ultimately dealing with Ronaldo, or were there tougher challenges?

Erik ten Hag: No, not really... Of course... what is a challenge? The real challenge is getting the whole team to function properly, as it always has been. Every player is crucial in that, and you certainly need top stars to win. In principle, any top club must embrace top stars, but those stars must also serve the whole team. And that was precisely the problem with Ronaldo.

Host: Did the other players in the squad still accept this superstar at the time? Or had that atmosphere completely disappeared?

Erik ten Hag: No, actually, everyone still accepted him. The players were willing to run for him, and they certainly admired him greatly. There's no doubt about it, and please don't misunderstand me, I'm not suggesting otherwise: he is an incredibly great player, among the greatest superstars in football history.

However, the reality is also clear: over the past seven or eight years, he genuinely hasn't been able to produce the same level of performance as before. His decline began during his time at Juventus.

This is where Real Madrid is very clever: they always know how to let stars go at the most opportune moment. They can tell when a player's competitive form starts to decline, and they decide to part ways while the player still appears to be at his peak, even though he can no longer maintain his old standard.

Host: To step back before the situation gets worse.

Hans Kraay (guest): So how would you describe your working relationship with Ronaldo?

Erik ten Hag: I certainly gave him special status. I invested a lot in him. Even before I officially took over as Manchester United manager, I made a special effort to have a long talk with him. I explained clearly how we would play, what role he would have in the tactical system, what I expected of him, and what he could expect from me and the team.

But ultimately, you also have to deliver on the pitch. If a player can no longer push through the pain and fight with everything he has... after all, in the Premier League...

Hans Kraay: Was he unable to do that?

Erik ten Hag: As I just said: he was no longer willing to push himself through hardship, to give his all day in and day out, or to commit fully in daily training so that he could get into and recover to optimal physical condition. If you don't reach excellent physical condition in the Premier League or the Champions League...

Ofir Marciano (guest): The same applies to the Portugal national team.

Erik ten Hag: It's the same in the Portugal national team. Then you have no chance at all.

Letschert: But at that age, is it still realistic to push yourself so hard every day? Or does he really need to be selective about which matches he plays? After all, at 36, 37... he's 40 now, you can't expect someone to...

Hans Kraay: But following on from what you just said, I always thought his greatest asset was precisely that: doing everything possible to maintain his physical condition, even paying a higher price than ordinary people.

Erik ten Hag: That's the public perception of him. Of course, he did become a supreme player because of that tenacity back then. But in the final stage, he could no longer maintain that level of effort.

Timo, to answer your question: if you can't do that, and the rules of survival in the Premier League are ruthless, you will fall completely behind. You won't be able to get into the box on time, you won't be able to... He still has excellent finishing ability, which everyone can still see.

But to match the physical duels and running intensity the Premier League demands, and to be in dangerous positions on time, you must maintain top physical condition.

Hans Kraay: Were there ever moments when you got along well? Or was it always tense?

Erik ten Hag: No, because our actual time working together was very short, and the whole period was filled with tension.

Host: How did those conversations usually go? You're sitting face to face... With many players, for example, you might see a certain potential in Timo and think: if I guide him in a certain way, I can unlock that potential. But sitting in front of you is Ronaldo, who has experienced countless things and won everything. Did you still feel you had a way to motivate him, to stimulate him? How did those conversations unfold?

Erik ten Hag: You make him see what it takes to meet the demands. In fact, he knows very well what it takes, otherwise he would never have achieved what he did. But you have to hold up reality like a mirror, present solid arguments, and show him detailed data to back them up. That way, things become crystal clear.

Hans Kraay: How did he react? Did he retort that you didn't understand at all?

Erik ten Hag: No, he didn't say that at all, because the evidence was too conclusive. In today's football, every on-field performance is precisely tracked with data. So I told him: make your choice, what do you want to do?

Hans Kraay: Was there really never a moment when you truly connected? For example, he scored a goal, and you celebrated with him, walking over and putting your arm around his shoulder?

Erik ten Hag: No, that never happened. Because of private family matters, he joined the team very late, when the season had already begun. Matches then came thick and fast, and he lacked the physical reserves to perform at the required level.

Host: He didn't have the self-scrutiny you just mentioned, or the competitive standards that needed to be met, at that time. Do you think he ever had these qualities in the past?

Erik ten Hag: Of course. He is undoubtedly an incredibly great star. At Real Madrid and at Manchester United, he won the Champions League five times and scored countless goals. He has contributed so much to world football. We have all been amazed and enthralled by his performances, and I too have enjoyed his brilliant displays.

But at that specific point in time... I had to make decisions based on the overall interests of the team and the club. At such a critical juncture, I believe the head coach must be clear and decisive.

Host: As a football fan, did it hurt a little to be the one to show him the door?

Erik ten Hag: No.

Host: Not at all? That's the legendary superstar Ronaldo. Any coach would have wanted to work alongside him and say proudly, "We fought side by side for several years." Deep down, as a football man, was there truly no sting?

Erik ten Hag: I have a clear conscience, because I did everything in my power to resolve the matter properly. But ultimately, the choice was his: whether he was willing to make that investment and sacrifice. Since he was unwilling, I had to make a different choice for the good of the whole team. And everyone saw the outcome later.

Letschert: I think this must have been extremely difficult for a head coach. Coaches often say, "No one is bigger than the club." But with Ronaldo, in terms of both fame and commercial brand, his influence far exceeded that of Manchester United itself. He is globally renowned, and Manchester United is also a world-class giant, but Ronaldo's individual stature is even greater. Isn't that tricky? You have to deal with all sorts of off-field pressures, such as the Piers Morgan interview and countless other commotions. You never encountered anything like that with any other player.

Erik ten Hag: But no matter what, rules are rules: no individual can be bigger than the club or the national team. Not Ronaldo, not Messi. Ultimately, the interests of the team always come first.

As I just emphasized: any top club should cherish and embrace top superstars, but top superstars must also run for the whole team. If a player no longer does that, the team will never succeed, nothing productive will come of it, and the partnership can only end. If a top superstar cannot grasp this... this is also what makes Messi so valuable.

Look at how Messi is integrated into the Argentina national team. It's truly admirable. But it also required immense effort and dedication from Messi himself. In the end, the whole team worked together with him, everyone was willing to run and fight for him, and he gave everything back to the team without reservation.

Host: One last short question: when you gave that interview to The Athletic, which caused a stir throughout the football world, and people like Schmeichel were furious on air... were you at all surprised when all this happened?

Erik ten Hag: No. When people who don't know the inside story, who have no idea what happened behind the scenes, make baseless judgments... I'm completely unfazed. Look at Manchester United's situation. For five whole years before I took over, they hadn't won any trophies...

Host: Actions speak louder than words.

Erik ten Hag: ...and against that backdrop, they still dared to make such grand statements. So I can only stay calm in the face of ignorance.

Hans Kraay: Did you feel a little relieved to finally speak your mind about your time in England?

Erik ten Hag: No.

Hans Kraay: Really not?

Erik ten Hag: Really not.

Hans Kraay: But you seemed to avoid mentioning something earlier: Manchester United paid you two years' salary, and under your contract you couldn't give interviews for two years, right?

Erik ten Hag: I could give interviews, it's just...

Host: As long as you don't damage the club's reputation.

Erik ten Hag: I would never do anything to harm the club, no matter what.

Letschert: You would never do that anyway.

Erik ten Hag: I would never do anything to harm the club, because Manchester United gave me so much. I had a very enjoyable time coaching there, got along well with the staff, and built deep friendships. And the fans... we created incredibly wonderful memories together with the League Cup triumph and the FA Cup final victory, and they always gave me unwavering support.

Host: So you don't harbor any resentment...

Erik ten Hag: Absolutely no resentment.