He was never the problem - Erik Ten Hag breaks silence on Cristiano Ronaldo fall out

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has broken his silence on the much-discussed fallout with Cristiano Ronaldo, firmly stating that the Portuguese legend “was never the problem.”

The 40-year-old Ronaldo who recently scored a hattrick left Manchester United amid a very public fallout with Ten Hag following a shocking interview with Piers Morgan, which accelerated his exit from the club. 

Despite their well-documented strained relationship and Ronaldo’s frustration with Ten Hag’s management style, the former United manager downplayed any personal issues and focused on the team’s success, which included winning the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024 during his tenure.

Speaking after returning to England with his new club Bayer Leverkusen, Ten Hag addressed the acrimonious split with Ronaldo during his time at Old Trafford. 

In a video posted on Instagram, Ten Hag expressed a forward-looking sentiment, saying, “For me it's no problem. He was never the problem and it’s... I think that’s the past.” 

“I think it was... what happened, it’s the past, and after that, we won two trophies at Manchester United. I wish him all the best for the future and I wish him the best of luck.”

Ten Hag’s remarks come as he prepares to lead Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, signaling his desire to move on from the past and concentrate on future challenges, while extending goodwill toward one of football’s greatest icons.

Though their relationship was famously rocky, highlighted by incidents such as Ronaldo refusing to come on as a substitute and being temporarily isolated from the first team, Ten Hag’s statement shows his view that Ronaldo was not the root cause of the club’s struggles during that period.

This honest reflection offers a fresh perspective on one of the Premier League’s most high-profile managerial-player fallouts in recent years, allowing both parties to move forward with dignity.