Cristiano Ronaldo finally broke his silence on the crisis in which Manchester United finds itself at the moment, slamming Erik ten Hag, while demanding an overhaul of the structure at the club from top to bottom in order to bring back some sort of success there.
In his interview, the Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Nassr forward attacked comments from Dutch manager Erik ten Hag, where he claimed that Manchester United can't win any Premier League or Champions League title.
The Portuguese star spoke to the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, lamenting the path his former club was on, and doubting the mentality of Ten Hag.
As Manchester United coach, you cannot say you're not going to fight to win the league or Champions League," Ronaldo said. "Mentally, you can say maybe we don't have that potential, but I cannot say that. We're going to try, you have to try.
United finished an underwhelming eighth in the Premier League last season-the worst ever position in the club's history-and have lost two of their first three games this campaign, which puts Ten Hag under pressure.
Ronaldo, a club legend with 145 goals in 346 appearances, believes the Old Trafford situation is more deep-seated, going to the extent of saying Manchester United has stagnated since the 2013 retirement of their longtime manager, Sir Alex Ferguson.
Reflecting on his own experience at the club, Ronaldo lamented the lack of progress. "There has been no evolution since Sir Alex left," he said. Despite being one of the biggest clubs in the world, Ronaldo insists that without structural change, United cannot compete with football's elite. "They need to rebuild everything. The club needs time because it's still one of the best clubs in the world, but they need to change.
But the 38-year-old remains sanguine about the future, especially with recent moves by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of the club, to restore United to its former glories. Ratcliffe's Ineos team recently purchased a 25% stake in the club and took control of football operations. "I believe the future will be bright, but they don't just depend on talent. They have to rebuild from the bottom. If not, they cannot compete. It will be impossible."
One glimmer of hope, Ronaldo suggested, has been the addition to Ten Hag's backroom staff of his former teammate Ruud van Nistelrooy. Ronaldo praised the move, suggesting that van Nistelrooy's experience and deep understanding of the club could help improve its fortunes. "If Ten Hag listens to Ruud, maybe he can help himself. The people who understand football are the people who were there in the dressing room. They know how to deal with the players."
Ronaldo called for the club to lean on figures from United's past who have deep knowledge of its traditions and values. "You cannot rebuild a club without knowledge-not guys who work in the office. The people who understand football are the people who were there. They know how to deal with the players."
But he admits to still holding dear the love for United despite leaving them in December 2022 following his controversial interview with Piers Morgan, where he felt "betrayed" by the club: "What I wish for Manchester United is what I wish for myself-to be the best team they can be. I love that club… I'm not the kind of guy that forgets the past.
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