Steve McClaren has shared insight into how there was a breakdown in Cristiano Ronaldo’s relationship with Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.
Cristiano Ronaldo had two spells at Manchester United.
The first involved the meteoric rise of a young, flamboyant winger under Sir Alex Ferguson, winning everything, including the double in 2007/08.
Ronaldo left United for the first time in 2009, signing for Real Madrid, before returning to Old Trafford in 2021. He left a year later after falling out with several club figures, such as former manager Erik ten Hag.
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Steve McClaren told Erik ten Hag ‘it’s you or him’ during row with Cristiano Ronaldo
Former United assistant manager Steve McClaren saw first-hand what went down between Ronaldo and Ten Hag.
Ronaldo sealed a fairytale homecoming at Old Trafford in 2021 by rejoining the club from Serie A giants Juventus.
Despite scoring 24 goals across all competitions in his first season back at United, Ronaldo’s return became a nightmare.
Ronaldo played under three managers during his second stint at the club. They included Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick and Ten Hag.
Ten Hag’s tactics proved to be an issue for Ronaldo, who didn’t want to adapt to the Dutchman’s high pressing system.
McClaren, who worked as a coach under Ten Hag, has revealed his side of the story.
“Erik tried to impose his style and that’s why he had that fight with Ronaldo all the way through,” McClaren told The Athletic.
“I said to Erik, very early, ‘it’s you or him’.
“Ronaldo was generally OK. But he didn’t want to do the job that Erik wanted him to do. Or didn’t feel he was capable of doing it.
“The instructions out of possession were, ‘Get into the middle, as soon as you’re back, you’re the first press, then double run, even a triple run now and again.
“I used to say to Ronnie, ‘If you want to play, that’s what you’ve got to do’. He’d argue, ‘Ah, nobody wants to press’. I’d say, ‘Well, they’re all younger lads, they can press’.”
“I said, ‘you have to run, it’s simple, Ronnie. If you don’t, you don’t play’.”
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Steve McClaren explains Jamaica resignation
McClaren resigned from his role as manager of Jamaica’s national team ahead of their failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Speaking about where it all went wrong, McClaren said: “The organisation wasn’t good enough, and it was too late to really do anything about it.
“So it was more frustration with that.”
Pointing towards his ankle, he added: “And I was getting so sore with this, that I just needed it right. My ankle’s good now, so I’m feeling a lot better.”
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