Erik ten Hag ‘had to dodge MINES laid by Cristiano Ronaldo’ during his first months as Man United boss, close friends say… after Louis van Gaal had told his Dutch compatriot to steer clear of the Old Trafford ‘mess’
- Ten Hag has revitalised Man United and ended their six-year trophy drought
- They have gone from strength to strength since Cristiano Ronaldo departed
- Friends of the United boss described the Ronaldo situation as like a ‘minefield’
Erik ten Hag had to ‘walk through minefields’ in his first few months at Manchester United as he dealt with the explosive Cristiano Ronaldo situation, according to close confidants of the manager.
The club was in such a mess, ex-United manager Louis van Gaal attempted to persuade Ten Hag not to accept the job last summer.
But the Dutch coach took up the challenge despite knowing his methods would likely bring him on a collision course with the Portuguese star.
So it proved, with Ten Hag dropping Ronaldo to the United bench after they were humiliated 4-0 by Brentford in their second Premier League game of the season.
Ronaldo then refused to come on as a substitute in a home win over Tottenham before storming down the Old Trafford tunnel before the final whistle.
Friends of Erik ten Hag have described the toxic Cristiano Ronaldo situation in his first few months as Manchester United manager as ‘like a minefield’
Ronaldo left the club after clashing with Ten Hag and giving his interview to Piers Morgan
Former United manager Louis van Gaal advised Ten Hag not to take on the job last summer
The final straw came when Ronaldo accused Ten Hag of ‘betraying’ him and took aim at the club during his bombshell interview with Piers Morgan.
That led to his United exit and Ten Hag’s side have gone from strength to strength without him, winning the club’s first silverware in six years by lifting the Carabao Cup last weekend.
Hans Kraay, a close friend and former team-mate of Ten Hag at De Graafschap who is now a broadcaster in Holland, described the tense situation when he arrived at United.
‘Erik deserves this success at United. People do not realise that he had to walk through minefields at United in his first five months,’ he told the Daily Mirror.
‘It was chaos at the club for a start – and there were the mines laid by Cristiano Ronaldo. Erik went to United because he saw the potential and the challenge.
‘You know what Van Gaal said to Ten Hag, don’t you? “Erik, it is one big mess at United, don’t go there.”
‘But Erik did, he did not mind sorting it all out and didn’t mind walking around Cristiano’s landmines
‘What is great about Erik is that he is down to earth and never wants to be a flash manager like some managers.
Ten Hag won the Carabao Cup last weekend to end Manchester United’s trophy drought
United beat Newcastle United 2-0 in the final at Wembley to claim long-overdue silverware
‘He is not like Jose Mourinho. When he went into his first day of training, he wanted to go in a van with his own comes in the back. That sums him up.’
Ten Hag, 53, has rejuvenated United, who are chasing an improbable Quadruple of trophies.
They have already claimed the Carabao Cup by beating Newcastle United 2-0 at Wembley last weekend.
In midweek, they beat West Ham 3-1 to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, where they will host Fulham, while next week sees the first leg of their UEFA Europa League last-16 tie with Real Betis.
In the Premier League, United sit third ahead of Sunday’s visit to Liverpool, some 11 points shy of leaders Arsenal but with a game in hand.
After United lost at Brentford in August, Ten Hag dragged his players in the following day for a 8.5-mile punishment run – but gained their respect by joining in himself.
Kraay added: ‘Erik probably didn’t know whether he could actually run 13.8km. I know for a fact he could hardly walk for three weeks afterwards!’
Van Gaal was United’s manager for two difficult seasons between 2014 and 2016
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