Cristiano Ronaldo believes Manchester United is fundamentally broken and asserts he holds the keys to its revival. The legendary Portuguese forward, who returned to United for a second stint before departing two years ago, emphasized that the club must “rebuild everything” to reclaim its illustrious past.
Critique of Current Management
Speaking on the “Rio Ferdinand Presents” podcast, Ronaldo criticized the current mentality of the coaches and manager Erik ten Hag.
“The coaches, they say they cannot compete to win the league and the Champions League,” Ronaldo said.
“If you’re a Manchester United coach, you cannot say that, that you’re not going to fight to win the league or the Champions League. You have to mentally say, listen, maybe we don’t have that potential … but we’re going to try, you have to try.”
Struggles Under Erik ten Hag
Since Sir Alex Ferguson led United to its last Premier League title in 2013, the club has faced challenges with multiple managers. Under ten Hag, United finished eighth last season—their worst Premier League finish ever—but still managed to defeat Manchester City to win the FA Cup in May. However, the start of this season has been disappointing, marked by a narrow victory against Fulham followed by losses to Brighton and Liverpool.
The Need for Comprehensive Rebuilding
“This club needs time to rebuild,” said Ronaldo. “It is still one of the best clubs in the world, but they need to change. They understand that it’s the only way. He further added, “I believe that the future will be bright, but they [can’t] depend only on the talents, it’s more than that. he added. “It’s all the club, not only players, everything as a unit, united.
Challenges Ahead for Manchester United
“They have to rebuild from the bottom; if not, they cannot compete, it will be impossible. They can do good things. Yes, they can win Carabao (Cup) … but the Champions League or Europa League or Premier League (will be) difficult, in my opinion. I wish that I’m wrong, but it will be difficult.”
Emphasizing Knowledge and Experience
Ronaldo highlighted the importance of experience in rebuilding the club, saying, “You cannot rebuild a club without knowledge. Not guys who work in offices, (who say), ‘I understand a lot of football because I see football on the television every day.’ It doesn’t work like that. The people who understand football 99% is the people who were there, in the dressing room, who were players.”
Continuing Legacy and Hope for United
Despite leaving United under strained circumstances in 2022 and expressing no respect for ten Hag during an explosive interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo remains passionate about the club’s success. Now with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, he believes that the addition of former striker Ruud van Nistelrooy to the coaching staff will “help a lot.” Ronaldo, who scored 145 goals for United, transforming himself from a talented winger to a prolific scorer, remains optimistic about the club’s future under the right leadership.
Ronaldo’s Continued Excellence
Recently, Ronaldo achieved the milestone of scoring his 900th career goal for Portugal against Croatia and added another goal against Scotland. His enduring excellence on the field underscores his deep connection and commitment to Manchester United’s resurgence.
