COACH: TEN HAG WASTED RONALDO

Former Manchester United coach Benni McCarthy believes that Erik ten Hag "wasted a great opportunity" with Cristiano Ronaldo during his time at the club. McCarthy, who was part of Ten Hag’s coaching staff for two years before departing in a summer shake-up following Sir Jim Ratcliffe's arrival as co-owner, has shed light on when "the problems started" between the Dutch manager and Ronaldo.

McCarthy had the chance to work with Ronaldo briefly before the Portuguese star’s exit in November 2022. The legendary forward had his contract terminated following a highly publicized fallout with Ten Hag, which included a controversial interview with Piers Morgan where Ronaldo criticized the manager and the club.

Reflecting on the situation, McCarthy admitted that Ronaldo’s departure felt inevitable. “Yes, it was inevitable. In the end, he left the club and chose Al Nassr. He is proving to everyone that he can still score goals,” McCarthy told *Zero Zero*.

Ronaldo had returned to Manchester United from Juventus in 2021, scoring an impressive 24 goals in his debut season back at Old Trafford. However, his second season turned sour under Ten Hag. The Dutch manager's playing philosophy, which emphasizes high pressing from the front, was thought to be at odds with Ronaldo’s style, resulting in limited game time for the striker.

McCarthy expressed disappointment over how Ronaldo was utilized, saying, “I think Manchester United wasted a great opportunity to use Cristiano in the right way. If we work as a team and then let Cristiano do what he needs to do in his position, because he is the best in the world at it, that is ideal. But I was not the head coach and I could not be the one to make those decisions.”

He acknowledged the complexities of managing a player of Ronaldo’s stature, adding, “It wasn’t easy because Cristiano is a huge character. He has his own personality, his own maturity, and he wants a coach who understands him too. At a certain point, it’s true, things started not working out between them. Erik had his philosophy, his ideas, and he didn’t see Cristiano being part of them.”

According to McCarthy, the rift began to widen as Ronaldo grew frustrated with his lack of playing time. Despite his limited appearances, McCarthy emphasized Ronaldo's dedication. “Cristiano wasn’t happy when he wasn’t playing because he gave everything he could in training. He trains like I’ve never seen anyone train before. He’s an elite player in every way, even in his behaviour,” McCarthy remarked.

Ronaldo ultimately left Manchester United and joined Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, where he continues to showcase his goal-scoring prowess. McCarthy’s insights highlight the missed opportunity for United and underline the difficulties of integrating a player of Ronaldo’s caliber into a specific footballing philosophy.