Why Erik ten Hag and Cristiano Ronaldo Collapsed

New insights from former Manchester United assistant Steve McClaren and striker coach Benni McCarthy have finally pulled back the curtain on the “acrimonious” 2022 exit of Cristiano Ronaldo. The breakdown wasn’t just about personality—it was a fundamental war over tactical philosophy.

The “Pressing” Problem

According to McClaren, Ten Hag’s system lived and died by the “first press,” and he insisted that the 37-year-old Ronaldo lead it.

• The Demand: Ten Hag required Ronaldo to make one, two, or even three defensive runs before recovering to the middle.

• The Ultimatum: McClaren recalls warning Ronaldo: “If you can’t do that, you won’t be playing… He won’t pick you.”

• The Conflict: While most managers would “accommodate” a player of Ronaldo’s stature, Ten Hag refused to budge, leading to a “standoff” that eventually saw the Portuguese superstar’s contract terminated.

Ronaldo’s Perspective: “Wasted Opportunity”

Benni McCarthy (now manager of Kenya) offers a different angle, suggesting United failed to use the world’s most prolific scorer correctly.

“Cristiano believed that [pressing] work should be done by the team as a whole,” McCarthy explained. “With him… the best thing to do was to give him the ball and let him do his thing.”

Despite his legendary work ethic—often arriving two hours before training—Ronaldo felt misunderstood. He viewed himself as an elite finisher who should be preserved for the final third, while Ten Hag viewed him as the first line of a defensive unit.

History Repeating Itself?

Fast forward to 2026, and Ronaldo’s uncompromising nature is making headlines again in the Saudi Pro League.

While Jorge Jesus has admitted Al Nassr’s squad depth doesn’t rival their Saudi competitors, Ronaldo’s decision to “strike” shows that the fire—and the friction—that defined his Old Trafford exit remains very much alive.