Some feuds never die. They just get a fresh interview. Erik ten Hag has reopened his war of words with Cristiano Ronaldo, and this time he even put a date on the decline. His verdict on Ronaldo after leaving Juventus: “From Juventus onwards it’s simply over.”
What Ten Hag Said About Ronaldo
The latest comments came on Sunday, November 1, on a Dutch television programme. The former United manager said Ronaldo has not been able to deliver for the last seven or eight years. His argument was about balance.
Every top team must embrace its top player, but that player must also make way for the team, which he called the problem with Ronaldo. He still called him a tremendous player and one of the all-time greats. He even gave Real Madrid a compliment. Ten Hag said Madrid always know when to say goodbye to players.
The October Warm-Up
This was round two. In an interview with The Athletic, Ten Hag said Ronaldo “let the team down, and he let me down.” He claimed Ronaldo did not prepare properly for games. That interview already made noise, and the sequel made more.
The Fitness Argument
The obvious pushback is that Ronaldo is famous for his fitness. Ten Hag replied that this is the perception and how Ronaldo became so great. He said Ronaldo could no longer push through the pain to train at his maximum every day, and that the Premier League punishes anyone who is not fit.
Why the Timing Is Spicy
The comments landed at an awkward moment. Portugal had just handed Ronaldo a 30-day suspension and a fine of 255 euros for leaving the national team camp. The ban was backdated, so he is not expected to miss any matches. Ten Hag also told ESPN that a Manchester United relegation is “certainly possible”, which is bold when his old club is winless in nine league games.
Ronaldo’s Answer: Goals
Ronaldo has not replied in words, but he keeps replying with goals. On October 29 he scored three times in 15 minutes in a 5-3 win over Al Kholood, his 67th career hat-trick. That took him to 985 career goals, 15 short of 1,000. He also scored 101 goals in 134 games for Juventus, which makes “it’s over” a hard line to defend.
So Who Is Right?
Both sides have numbers. Ronaldo scored 27 goals in 54 games in his second spell at United. Under Ten Hag alone, he scored three goals in 16 matches. Ronaldo has said before that he felt betrayed and that respect was missing. Ten Hag insists he made a team decision. Neither will back down.
You can also check out our YouTube for more sport news @ShapHub
