Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterFormer Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag, whose reign at Old Trafford ended in October 2024, has opened up about the impact of Cristiano Ronaldos behaviour on toxic culture at the club.The Dutchman described issuing sanctions in matters related to player discipline, to the likes of Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, then confessed that a similar situation emerged with the Portuguese #7.In an interview with The Athletic, the ex-Manchester United manager claimed: [Ronaldo] let me down I respected him a lot, before revealing the Red Devils icons behavioural issues.Erik ten Hag claims he respected Cristiano Ronaldo but was let down he let the team down at Manchester UnitedOn toxic culture at Manchester United, the Dutchman claimed that power is given to the players who enact such behaviour, fuelling the cycle.They are continuing the toxic culture, they fuel it. They give power to the players sometimes, you have to make corrections, claimed Ten Hag. You may like The end of Cristiano Ronaldo's international career: Chain of events revealed that led to CR7's bombshell exit HENRY WINTER: Cristiano Ronaldo is holding Portugal back - it's about time he accepted it Cristiano Ronaldo's goodbye tour has been eight years long. Why didn't he just retire in 2018? The Dutchman then explained how he felt he had to play bad cop with players to raise standards, while grappling with the reality of having to pick certain personnel to win Premier League matches.Ten Hag claimed that Ronaldos poor work ethic led to sub-par fitness levels, leaving the No.7 unable to press or play as hard as the Dutchman required him to.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.He let the team down, and he let me down, because we planned with him, claimed Ten Hag. I flew out to Portugal to speak with him about what I was aiming for before I came to United.According to the Dutchman, the now 41-year-old pulled out of training sessions, didnt get his heart rate raised to sufficient levels during training, and completed just two of the three scheduled laps that Ten Hag infamously made players do after a torrid 4-0 defeat to Brentford in August 2022.Obviously, hes one of the best in football history. I respected him a lot. But at that time, as a manager, I had to make a rational decision and keep the players I admire in. What to read next 'That's the mindset of a Manchester United player' Roy Keane tears into Bruno Fernandes in another scathing rant Cristiano Ronaldo issued Portugal return date, fine and suspension after Jorge Jesus row Will Cristiano Ronaldo get a Portugal send-off? I confronted him with this. Many times I say, Ronnie, everyone wants to work for you to bring you in the right position, but if you cant bring yourself in the box, you cant score.He was not capable of this. Its the wrong idea to put this to me that I expected him to do the pressing, that hes exhausted. But he couldnt. He ran neither in possession nor out of possession. The reason was because he didnt prepare himself, revealed Ten Hag.Every top team has to embrace the top player, but the top player has to work for the team. He was telling the players, Save your legs at the training.I understand it when you are top fit - you have sessions, you can save the legs. But first you have to train yourself to get into the right fitness levels.Ten Hag hasnt returned to management since his brief stint post-Manchester United with Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. Cristiano Ronaldo, whose return date, fine and suspension period for Portugal has now been revealed, is enjoying time in the Saudi Pro League, as he chases 1000 career goals.TOPICSErik ten HagRonaldoManchester UnitedPremier LeagueKedar BayleySocial Links NavigationFreelance WriterKedar Bayley is a trained journalist specialising in culture reporting. As a fan of Liverpool FC,he writes on the Reds often. Knowledgable about all things sports, cinema and television,you can find his words in Screen International, FourFourTwo, Manchester Evening News and more.
