Erik ten Hag on Cristiano Ronaldo: “He’s gone and it’s the past”

In an interview with MUTV, manager Erik ten Hag spoke about Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure and the return of the rest of the World Cup squad to Old Trafford.

Ronaldo had wanted to leave Old Trafford and he recently got his wish when on 22 November, Manchester United announced the end of the relationship between the player and the club. Ronaldo’s controversial interview with Piers Morgan was the beginning of the end and he left the Premier League giants for a second time.

In an interview with MUTV published on Wednesday, Ten Hag said: “He’s gone and it’s the past. We are now looking forward and we’re looking to the future.”

Returning to Premier League action

The job, according to the Dutch coach, is to continue the rebuilding of a team that is fifth in the Premier League. The task, once club football returns, will be to get the Old Trafford outfit back on the winning run they enjoyed after a shaky start. To continue the run that has seen them lose just three games since September.

“We warned the players that once they are out of the World Cup they will have to get back to the club and the league, which will kick off immediately,” Ten Hag explained.

Fighting for the World Cup

“You have to be prepared, but I think our players are used to this. They are winners and now they are fighting for the World Cup. Hopefully one of them will win it, but the moment they are eliminated they will have to handle the situation. They have to be ready for the next challenge,” he added.

“When you change things in organisation and change the way of playing, that takes time. In top level football, you never get time. Opponents want to kill you and that happened.

“We had to quickly adapt and I think our squad did terrifically. The mentality changed and I think our way of playing changed during the season, the style, and I think we are growing and we have to keep the process going.”