MANCHESTER, UK — New details have emerged regarding the infamous fallout between Cristiano Ronaldo and Erik ten Hag, with former assistant coach Steve McClaren revealing the exact moment the relationship reached a point of no return.
Speaking on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast, McClaren shed light on the tactical “standoff” that eventually led to Ronaldo’s explosive exit in November 2022. According to McClaren, the clash wasn’t personal, but a fundamental battle of wills over Ten Hag’s high-pressing philosophy.
“Ronnie, this is your job”
McClaren explained that Ten Hag refused to grant Ronaldo the “superstar exemption” that many other managers might have offered. The Dutch manager demanded that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner lead the first line of the press a task Ronaldo was reportedly unwilling to sustain.
“I used to say to Ronnie: ‘All he [Ten Hag] wants you to do is be the first press, make one run, make two, maybe a third’,” McClaren recalled. “I told him, ‘If you won’t do that, you won’t be playing. He won’t pick you.’ Erik stuck to his guns. Most managers would accommodate Ronaldo, but Erik wouldn’t.”
A Clash of Mentalities
The “standoff” on the Carrington training fields set the stage for Ronaldo’s departure following his unsanctioned interview with Piers Morgan. Years later, the tension remains. In 2024, Ronaldo doubled down on his criticism, targeting Ten Hag’s public comments about United’s inability to compete for the Premier League title.
“As a Manchester United coach, you cannot say you’re not going to fight to win the League,” Ronaldo told the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast.
The Legacy of the Conflict
In hindsight, the Ronaldo-Ten Hag saga was a defining chapter of the previous era. While Ten Hag won two trophies, his rigid approach eventually saw him replaced by Michael Carrick at the start of 2026. Ironically, Carrick’s more fluid management style has seen players like Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo flourish in ways that the “battles on the training field” of 2022 never allowed.
Filepe Junior is a football writer tracking La Liga transfers, covering major signings, squad planning, and player movements across Spanish clubs.
