Cristiano Ronaldo: Manchester United Must Rebuild to Compete Again

Cristiano Ronaldo has openly criticized Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, expressing the need for the club to "rebuild everything" to become competitive at the highest level of football once again.

Ronaldo's remarks come amid growing pressure on the Dutch coach following Manchester United's underwhelming eighth-place finish last season, the club's worst in Premier League history. The team has also started this season with two defeats in their opening three matches.

Speaking on the "Rio Ferdinand Presents" podcast, Ronaldo, who had two stints with United before his departure to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, questioned Ten Hag's mindset. He said, "The coach says they cannot compete to win the [Premier] League and Champions League… As Manchester United coach, you cannot say that you're not going to fight to win the league or Champions League."

Ronaldo emphasized that while the team may not currently have the potential to win these titles, the mentality must always be to strive for success. "Mentally [you can] say maybe we don't have that potential, but I cannot say that. We're going to try, you have to try."

The Portuguese forward also reflected on his time at Manchester United and expressed his love for the club, noting, "I love that club... I'm not that kind of guy that forgot the past."

Ronaldo's first spell at the club lasted six years, during which he helped United secure three Premier League titles, a Champions League, two League Cups, an FA Cup, a FIFA Club World Cup, and the Community Shield. He returned to United from Juventus in August 2021 and, over his two spells, scored 145 goals in 346 appearances before moving to Al-Nassr in December 2022.

Just a month before his exit, Ronaldo had made headlines with a controversial interview, telling Piers Morgan that he felt "betrayed" and was being forced out of the club.

On Ferdinand's podcast, Ronaldo also highlighted the lack of progress at United since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013. "There had been no evolution," he said, pointing to the club's failure to win a Premier League title since then.

Despite these concerns, Ronaldo acknowledged some positive steps, including the involvement of co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who recently acquired a 25% stake in the club with his Ineos team set to take charge of football operations. "They need to rebuild everything, in my opinion," Ronaldo said, adding, "The owners of the club are investing in the training ground, so I'm happy [because things are changing]."

He believes that while the club still ranks among the best in the world, significant changes are required to regain competitiveness. "They have to rebuild from the bottom. If not, they cannot compete. It will be impossible."

Ronaldo also praised the decision to bring former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy into Ten Hag's coaching staff, saying his knowledge and experience could be valuable for the club. "If Ten Hag listens to Ruud, maybe he can [help himself]," Ronaldo added.

He stressed that those who understand the club's culture, like van Nistelrooy and former players such as Rio Ferdinand, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, and Gary Neville, should be involved in rebuilding the team. "The people who understand the football are the people who were there in the dressing room. They know how to deal with the players," he said.

Ronaldo concluded that he remains optimistic about the club's future but reiterated the need for structural changes to achieve success again.