Erik ten Hag has accused Cristiano Ronaldo of letting Manchester United down by failing to prepare himself for matches, with the former Red Devils boss claiming the forward pulled out of training sessions and encouraged team-mates to ‘save their legs’.

Ronaldo left Man United by mutual consent in November 2022 after a bombshell interview with Piers Morgan, in which he claimed he had been ‘betrayed’ by Ten Hag.

The Portuguese star made just 16 appearances under Ten Hag, who had been appointed as Man United’s head coach in the summer, with their relationship quickly unravelling.

Ten Hag, who was sacked as Man United boss in October 2024, has said he confronted Ronaldo over his preparation for matches.

Speaking to the Athletic, Ten Hag claimed Ronaldo did not get himself to the ‘right fitness levels’ after pulling out of training sessions and failed to get his heart rate raised to the required level when he did train.

‘He let the team down, and he let me down, because we planned with him,’ Ten Hag said.

Erik ten Hag has said Cristiano Ronaldo ‘let the team down’ at Man United after accusing him of failing to prepare himself for matches

Ten Hag said he confronted Ronaldo over his fitness levels as the former Man United boss claimed the star had pulled out of training sessions

‘Obviously, he’s one of the best in football history. I respected him a lot. But at that time, as a manager, I had to make a rational decision and keep the players I admire in.’

‘Many times I say, “Ronnie, everyone wants to work for you to bring you in the right position, but if you can’t bring yourself in the box, you can’t score”.

‘He was not capable to do this. It’s the wrong idea to put this to me that I expected him to do the pressing, that he’s exhausted. But he couldn’t. He ran neither in possession nor out of possession. The reason was because he didn’t prepare himself.

‘Every top team has to embrace the top player, but the top player has to work for the team.

‘He was telling the players, “Save your legs at the training”. I understand it when you are top fit; you have sessions, you can save the legs. But first you have to train yourself to get into the right fitness levels.’

The Dutchman reportedly claimed Ronaldo’s stance ultimately rubbed off on other players in the Man United squad. 

Ten Hag insisted that he had outlined his expectations for Ronaldo before he came to the club and that he had initially been a key part of his plans.

Ronaldo had clashed with Ten Hag earlier in the Dutchman’s reign at Man United, with the forward having been warned about his conduct in pre-season having left Old Trafford at half-time after being substituted in a friendly.

Ten Hag dropped Ronaldo in October 2022 after he refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham and walked down the tunnel before the end of the match

Ronaldo claimed he had been ‘betrayed’ by Ten Hag in an explosive interview in November 2022, which ultimately led to his Man United contract being terminated

He was dropped for a match against Chelsea in October 2022 after Ten Hag confirmed Ronaldo had refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham three days earlier.

Ten Hag’s former assistant Steve McClaren claimed earlier this year that there had been a standoff between the Dutchman and Ronaldo, which led to him trying to convince the star to follow the head coach’s simple instructions to secure a place in the team.

Ronaldo’s second spell at Man United ultimately ended after his explosive comments in November 2022. 

‘I don’t have respect for him because he doesn’t show respect for me,’ Ronaldo said of Ten Hag at the time.

‘Some people, they don’t want me here – not only the coach but the other two or three guys. Honestly, I shouldn’t say that. But listen, I don’t care. People should listen to the truth. Yes, I feel betrayed.’

In 2024, Ronaldo doubled down on his disdain for the Dutchman, insisting he was too negative for a club of United’s stature.

Ronaldo, now 41, last month became involved in another high-profile dispute with a manager after walking out of Portugal’s squad, citing ‘broken promises’ from Jorge Jesus.

That came after he was left on the bench during their 2-1 Nations League win over Norway, with the Portuguese Football Federation subsequently suspending the forward for his actions.

Ronaldo said a plan had been drawn up for him to come off the bench for 30 minutes, but Jesus made him warm up without bringing him on because he ‘didn’t need Cristiano’.

Before Portugal’s match against Denmark, football’s all-time leading goalscorer is understood to have agreed to an eight-point statement for Jesus to deliver at his press conference, aimed at quashing speculation that Ronaldo was demanding more playing time. 

But Jesus veered off course, prompting Ronaldo to bail on the Portugal camp before releasing an extraordinary 1,996-word statement accusing the manager of twice backtracking on his word.

Ronaldo has since been fined £215 and banned for a month by Portuguese football chiefs, but the punishment is backdated to September 30.

It will ensure Ronaldo is free to return to Portugal’s squad for their Nations League matches next month if he is called up by Jesus.