Meet the standards, or don’t play – Former Man United assistant shares insights on Ten Hag vs Ronaldo episode | OneFootball

Former Manchester United assistant manager Steve McClaren has lifted the lid on the intense power struggle between Cristiano Ronaldo and Erik ten Hag.

The Portugal star fell out with the United manager, which led to the termination of his contract in 2022.

McClaren had the perfect view of the battle as he was part of Ten Hag’s backroom staff.

In an interview with the Telegraph, the 63-year-old said Ten Hag was correct in setting the standards.

He said: “I couldn’t fault his [Ten Hag’s] approach. He handled it very well.

“I said at the time he was the right man to go in. That was shown in the way he handled [the departure of Cristiano] Ronaldo.

“He [Ten Hag] came in with set standards. Set rules. Set way of playing. And if you didn’t run, you didn’t play. He was rigid on that. Which the Dutch are.

“He knew that was what was needed. There could be no flexibility, no way the players could manoeuvre [out of that responsibility]. This is what you had to do – or you didn’t play. And he took on Ronaldo, and quite rightly.”

Erik ten Hag has brought discipline to Man United

Discipline is a vital aspect of a good culture – an attribute that every team member must follow.

Allowing leniency for one person can set a negative precedent for the entire squad.

Ronaldo is one of the greatest players to grace the game, but he had to adhere to the rules established by Ten Hag.

McClaren indicates in the interview that Ronaldo was not fulfilling his role as a runner.

Ten Hag has always insisted that his team must be high-pressing. They must defend from the front, putting pressure on the opposition to lose possession.

Ronaldo was a highly effective goalscorer who focused on conserving his energy for when it mattered most.

The two men had differing philosophies, which created tension between them. The club made the right decision by backing Ten Hag.

United captain Bruno Fernandes admitted earlier that the Dutchman instilled discipline, similar to Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp at Manchester City and Liverpool, respectively.

Ten Hag is into his third season at Old Trafford. With a new hierarchy and a squad largely assembled under his watch, he has no excuse but to deliver success this season.