Steve McClaren has said that Erik ten Hag’s ‘pressing’ tactics were a contributing factor to Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Manchester United in 2022.
Ronaldo’s second stint with United was short-lived after the forward found himself out of favour under Ten Hag, soon agreeing to end his contract to sign for Al Nassr. McClaren said the falling out was due to the demands Van Gaal put on his strikers.
“There were fights on the training pitch,” McClaren said. “Erik’s message was clear, pressing from the front was one of Ronaldo’s tasks. If he could not or would not do it, he was not going to play.”
McClaren said the situation was a “stand-off” with Ten Hag refusing to compromise on his style of play despite Ronaldo’s arrival. The forward went on to vent his dismay publicly, which betrayed the state of their relationship.
Former striker coach Benni McCarthy appeared to concur, and proposed that the disagreement was one of playing philosophy. He admired Ronaldo’s professionalism and work ethic but conceded that the Portuguese star was not a perfect fit for Ten Hag’s tactical plan, which revolved around forwards’ relentless pressing.
Now with Al Nassr, Ronaldo has reportedly fallen out again highlighting how differences in philosophy with directors have come to define the final years of his career.
