Erik ten Hag, former Manchester United manager, has openly discussed his strained relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo during their time at Old Trafford. Ten Hag asserted that Ronaldo "let the team down" and "let him down," despite the manager's initial efforts to align with the Portuguese superstar by traveling to Portugal before taking charge. The Dutchman criticized Ronaldo's fitness and training standards, stating Ronaldo "did not prepare himself" and was unable to perform within his system, specifically lacking running in and out of possession. Ten Hag emphasized that every player, regardless of status, must adhere to the manager's system and demands, and work for the team. He also mentioned Ronaldo allegedly pressured teammates to conserve energy. The public confrontations, including Ronaldo's 2022 interview with Piers Morgan, ultimately led to Ronaldo's amicable contract termination with Manchester United in November 2022.