Erik Ten Hag revives Cristiano Ronaldo rift with cheeky six-word quip about the star’s Manchester United exit

Former Manchester United head coach Erik Ten Hag has once again addressed his much-discussed fallout with Cristiano Ronaldo — this time adding a hint of cheek to his response.

Former Manchester United head coach Erik Ten Hag has once again addressed his much-discussed fallout with Cristiano Ronaldo — this time adding a hint of cheek to his response. Speaking after a 2-0 pre-season defeat to Chelsea with his new club Bayer Leverkusen, Ten Hag downplayed the notion that the Portuguese superstar was ever the source of United’s troubles. In doing so, he slipped in a pointed six-word remark about what happened after Ronaldo’s departure — a comment that has already reignited conversation among fans.

While he didn’t spell it out immediately, Ten Hag’s jab was a nod to the club’s post-Ronaldo achievements, hinting that the real issues during that period lay far deeper than the forward himself.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s second stint at Manchester United began with promise after his return in 2021, scoring 24 goals in his first season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. However, things soured rapidly after Ten Hag’s arrival in 2022. Tensions flared as Ronaldo found himself benched in key matches, refused to come on as a substitute, and openly criticized the club’s direction in a high-profile interview. The fallout led to his mutual departure in November 2022.

Ronaldo soon signed for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, where he has since maintained prolific form — registering 93 goals and 19 assists in just over 100 appearances, and winning the league’s Golden Boot and Player of the Season awards twice each. Yet, despite his individual brilliance, a league title has so far eluded him.

The comment that sparked the buzz

At Stamford Bridge, Ten Hag was asked if Ronaldo — who had just scored a hat-trick for Al-Nassr — was “still the problem” for him. With a bemused smile, the Dutchman replied, “For me, it is no problem; he was never the problem. I think it was what happened. It’s the past, and after that, we won two trophies at Manchester United. I wish him all the best for the future, and I wish him the best of luck.”

That six-word interjection — “after that, we won two trophies” — was widely seen as a subtle reminder of United’s immediate success following CR7’s exit. Under Ten Hag, the Red Devils lifted the 2023 Carabao Cup and 2024 FA Cup, even if his overall tenure remained under scrutiny.

While Ronaldo’s scoring record in Saudi Arabia remains unmatched, the competitive gap between the Saudi Pro League and the Premier League has been a recurring talking point.

Ronaldo himself has publicly criticized Ten Hag’s mentality, telling former teammate Rio Ferdinand: “The coach says they cannot compete to win the League and Champions League… Manchester United coach, you cannot say that you’re not going to fight to win the League or Champions League. You have to try.”