New Delhi: Erik ten Hag has broken his two-year silence on his turbulent Manchester United spell, claiming Cristiano Ronaldo let him and the team down. The former United manager also questioned the influence of the club's ex-Real Madrid stars, revealing how their differences over training, tactics and authority fuelled the fallout.

Cristiano Ronaldo's second spell at Manchester United ended in bitterness, but former manager Erik ten Hag has now offered his account of why their relationship unravelled. The Dutchman believes the Portuguese superstar let both him and the team down, arguing that his status in football could not come at the expense of collective responsibility.

In an interview, Ten Hag broke his silence on a relationship that deteriorated during the 2022-23 season. Despite respecting Ronaldo's extraordinary legacy, he said the forward's approach to training and fitness made it difficult to build the team he wanted at Old Trafford. He revealed that he had travelled to Portugal to discuss his vision with Ronaldo before taking charge, but eventually had to make a decision based on what he believed was best for the team.

Ten Hag noted that he confronted the player regarding his positioning and physical preparation, pointing out that performance levels had dropped and that preparation fell short of team requirements. The breakdown was striking given Ronaldo's output in his first season back, when he scored 24 goals across all competitions in 2021-22 and finished as United's leading scorer.

However, the picture changed dramatically under Ten Hag as Ronaldo managed just three goals in 16 appearances across all competitions in 2022-23 before leaving in November 2022. Tensions escalated after he refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham and left the stadium early, culminating in an explosive interview that led to the termination of his contract.

Ten Hag also questioned the influence of what he described as the Madrid connection, referring to Ronaldo, Casemiro, and Raphael Varane, all former Real Madrid stars who had enjoyed huge success in Spain. He suggested that these powerful players wanted to dictate terms in a way that did not suit the phase Manchester United was in.

While Ten Hag wanted a squad built around his tactical demands, individual standing and influence made the transition difficult. Two years after his departure from the club, the former manager has made it clear that he still believes the fundamental differences in approach proved insurmountable.