Ex-Man United coach says Cristiano Ronaldo’s controversial comments on the club were right
After Erik ten Hag was given the reins at Manchester United following the struggles of interim manager Ralf Rangnick, the Dutchman and Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo did not meet eye to eye.
Ronaldo was eventually phased out of the United first team with Anthony Martial, when he was fit for the Red Devils, starting ahead of the Portuguese striker.
The Portuguese striker caused a stir when he revealed all in a YouTube interview with Piers Morgan back in 2022, before United decided to tear up his contract at the club.
Phelan on United decision
Speaking on talkSPORT, former United coach Mike Phelan, who was part of the coaching staff under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, believes the 39-year-old striker may have been right in his assessment of the club.
“I do think he had a point,” Phelan said. “There were elements to the training ground that were tired, definitely.
“He’s a high maintenance player… massive standards, huge standards. And he obviously gained a lot of experiences at Manchester United, left, gained even more.
“Coming back, anybody would expect more. You want to move with the times. I don’t think he saw that pretty early in his career at United.
“But when we brought him back, he should’ve seen the feelings around the place and the players. Top, top players in that dressing room just wanted him around – they wanted him.
“It was an unbelievable decision to bring a world class player into that dressing room. And the supporters reacted to it hugely. The lift was remarkable. I just think (his time with the club) ran its course.”
Ronaldo’s claims
The Portuguese striker, in that infamous interview with Morgan, claimed that the facilities at the club had not changed that much since he left the club for Real Madrid in 2009.
It seems INEOS, the Red Devils’ new minority owners, agree with United’s statement as a report from The Telegraph has claimed that the club are preparing to do some big renovation work at Carrington, the club’s training ground, this summer.
Ronaldo certainly caused a stir with his comments, and may well have gone about things in the wrong way, but the Portuguese striker looks to be spot on as the new minority owners attempt to make their mark at Old Trafford.
