Erik ten Hag has spoken for the first time since the club agreed to part ways with former striker, Cristiano Ronaldo in an interview with the club’s media team [manutd.com].
The Portuguese, who is currently away with his national team at the World Cup saw his contract terminated by mutual consent [manutd.com] after he gave an explosive bombshell interview with Piers Morgan, in which he criticised the Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag.
He was surplus for requirements under the Dutchman, who only started Ronaldo in four Premier League matches and in the reveal-it-all interview Ronaldo spoke about his lack of respect for the United manager, which ultimately proved that there was no way back for the Portugal captain and that the club had no choice but to act.
Ronaldo said that “I don’t have respect for Erik ten Hag because he doesn’t show respect for me”.
“If you don’t have respect for me, I will never have any for you”.
"I don't have respect for him, because he don't show respect for me."
Cristiano Ronaldo says he experiences a lack of "empathy" from his Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag.
Watch live: https://t.co/ajbahBvQpp@cristiano | @piersmorgan | @TalkTV | #90MinutesWithRonaldo | #PMU pic.twitter.com/bzYswsD128
— Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) November 17, 2022
Given that United have not been in action for more than three weeks, ten Hag has not had an opportunity to speak about Ronaldo but in a media interview with Danny Webber for the club’s official media channels [manutd.com], the Dutchman said that he is keen to move on from the Ronaldo episode and look to the future after being asked how did he manage that situation.
“He’s gone and it’s the past. We are now looking forward and we’re looking to the future”, the United manager told MUTV in the second part of his interview with the club in Spain.
United and ten Hag are in Spain for a winter training camp as they look to hit the ground running ahead of the resumption of the season after the World Cup break and the Reds have two friendlies lined up in Spain against La Liga opposition, Cadiz CF and Real Betis to do so.
