Erik ten Hag hits back at Cristiano Ronaldo for his Manchester United ‘rebuild’ comments

Erik ten Hag has issued a defiant response to Cristiano Ronaldo after he claimed Manchester United want a rebuild.

Portuguese legend Ronaldo performed for the Premier League giants throughout two stints, the second of which ended unceremoniously on the finish of 2022.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner performed a bombshell interview with Piers Morgan through which he criticised Ten Hag and the Glazer household.

Virtually two years on from his feedback, Ronaldo has now revealed his perception that United have to ‘rebuild all the pieces’ to return to their former glory.

Ten Hag has since responded to the ahead, but in addition wished to emphasize that Ronaldo’s feedback had been in relation to profitable the Premier League.

“He stated that Manchester United cannot win the Premier League. No, he stated this in case you learn the article very properly,” Ten Hag stated in his press convention forward of United’s weekend journey to Southampton, dwell on talkSPORT.

“He’s far-off in Saudi, far-off from Manchester. Everybody can have and is entitled to have an opinion, it’s okay.”

Ten Hag has led United to 2 trophies in as many seasons on the membership, first profitable the Carabao Cup final yr earlier than lifting the FA Cup in Might.

Following the latter, the Dutchman agreed to increase his contract at Previous Trafford till 2026 regardless of hypothesis he would depart.

Talking on the finish of August, he stated he is assured that United will proceed to win silverware: “Within the final two years we received, behind [Manchester] Metropolis, essentially the most trophies in English soccer.

“That’s the actuality. They’re the details. This yr we need to win. We need to win trophies. I’m fairly assured we’ll do this.”

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Nevertheless, United have endured one other troublesome begin to the season as they’ve received simply certainly one of three Premier League matches.

Ten Hag’s facet narrowly beat Fulham 1-0 on the opening weekend earlier than falling to a late 2-1 defeat on the street at Brighton.

Bitter rivals Liverpool then beat them 3-0 at Previous Trafford earlier than the worldwide break, with United sitting 14th within the desk.

Talking on whether or not or not the membership are heading in the right direction, Ten Hag added: “We are going to see the place we’re in Might subsequent yr.

“It is rather early within the season and it’s about profitable trophies, be as excessive as potential within the league, do all the pieces to win each recreation after which we’ll see in Might the place we’re within the league.”