Ten Hag: "Ronaldo is holding back Portugal"

Ten Hag: “Ronaldo is holding back the Portuguese national team”

According to Vnexpress.

Context

Erik Ten Hag, former Manchester United manager, is now technical director at Twente. His opinion of Ronaldo and the Portuguese national team may influence the perception of players and coaches in the world of football.

Why is this important

Erik Ten Hag's criticism of Cristiano Ronaldo highlights important aspects of the team dynamics in the Portuguese national team. Ten Hag argues that Ronaldo, despite his past achievements, is no longer capable of making a meaningful contribution to the team's success, which could affect their season outlook and international results.

Key takeaways

• Ten Hag: “Ronaldo is holding back the Portuguese team.”
• Erik Ten Hag criticizes Cristiano Ronaldo for his selfishness, claiming that the Portuguese national team performs better without him.
• Ten Hag: 'Ronaldo kìm hãm đội tuyển Bồ Đào Nha'.

Erik Ten Hag, the former Manchester United head coach, has slammed Cristiano Ronaldo, claiming the 41-year-old striker puts his own interests ahead of the team. In an interview with the Dutch publication Voetbal International, he noted that the Portuguese national team plays better when Ronaldo is not on the field.

"Cristiano behaves as if he is more than the club and the country he plays for. This is his brand. He only cares about maximizing his benefits. It has nothing to do with the team," Ten Hag said.

According to the coach, while experienced players can contribute to the national team, the demands of club football, especially at Champions League level, are much higher. “At the age of 35-36, a career usually ends, with the exception of rare cases. But nature does not spare anyone, not even Cristiano,” Ten Hag added.

He also emphasized that Ronaldo has become an obstacle to the development of the Portuguese national team, which has a quality squad, but functions more effectively without him. “I don’t want to prove that I’m right, but it’s obvious. He no longer wins significant trophies with the team,” the coach said.


Ten Hag admitted that Ronaldo was an "incredible player" in the past, but his level of play now leaves much to be desired.The last major trophy Ronaldo won at club level was the Coppa Italia in 2021 with Juventus. Ten Hag does not consider tournaments such as the Saudi Pro League or the UEFA Nations League to be comparable to competitions such as the Euros, World Cup or Champions League. “Ronaldo is no longer capable of winning major titles,” Ten Hag concluded.

These comments only confirm the ongoing misunderstanding between Ten Hag and Ronaldo, who worked together at Manchester United in the 2022-2023 season. This time, Ten Hag focused on Ronaldo's role in the national team rather than his differences with him at the club. Ten Hag previously explained why he reduced Ronaldo's role in the team at the beginning of the season. Ronaldo disappointed the coach and the team by not following tactical instructions. Ten Hag repeatedly asked the striker to take the right positions in the penalty area, but Ronaldo, according to him, could not live up to the demands, both with and without the ball.

Ten Hag rejected the idea that the demands of pressing were wearing on Ronaldo, saying he was not in proper physical shape. He also accused Ronaldo of advising his teammates to save energy in training instead of preparing properly for games. Ten Hag noted that Ronaldo and his teammates such as Raphael Varane and Casemiro had a mentality that was inappropriate for Manchester United, as they believed that players could decide for themselves how to play.At the same time, Ten Hag sought to create a team that played attacking and energetic football.

Relations between Ten Hag and Ronaldo worsened at the end of 2022 after the striker's interview with journalist Piers Morgan, in which he openly criticized the coach and the club's management. Ultimately, Ronaldo terminated his contract with Manchester United and signed with Al-Nasr.

What happens next

The Portugal national team may continue to develop without Ronaldo, which could open up new opportunities for young players. Erik Ten Hag, as technical director at Twente, can see how his statements about Ronaldo's influence on the team are realized in further matches of the national team.

Frequently Asked Questions

What match is discussed in the article?

The article discusses Cristiano Ronaldo's influence on the Portugal national team and his role in the team, as well as Erik Ten Hag's comments on his performance.

What are Erik Ten Hag's comments about Ronaldo?

Erik Ten Hag claims that Ronaldo puts his interests above the team and that the Portuguese national team plays better without him.

How will this affect the position of the Portuguese national team?

Ten Hag believes that Ronaldo's absence could contribute to the national team playing better, which could have a positive impact on their results.

When was Ronaldo's last major trophy?

The last major trophy Ronaldo won at club level was the Coppa Italia in 2021 with Juventus.

Which tournaments does Ten Hag consider significant?

Ten Hag considers tournaments such as the Euro, World Cup or Champions League to be significant, as opposed to the UEFA Nations League or Saudi Pro League.

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