Erik ten Hag changed his tune with response to Cristiano Ronaldo's Manchester United comments
manchestereveningnews.co.ukErik ten Hag has rarely held back when he feels he is being targeted with criticism. Whether that is disagreeing with critical journalists in press conferences, or labelling analysis from pundits Jamie Carragher and Alan Shearer "subjective" and "stupid", he gives as good as he gets.
But this was clearly a fight he didn't want to take on. Going back at a journalist will often go down well online and United fans will lap up any manager who bites back at Liverpool loyalist Carragher or Newcastle fan Shearer.
Ronaldo, however, is a different beast. The relationship between the two is evidently fractured beyond repair. Ronaldo said he had "no respect" for the Dutchman during his explosive Piers Morgan interview in November 2022 and this week he reopened that can of worms, needing no invitation from Rio Ferdinand to throw in a few barbs at the manager who ended his second spell at Old Trafford. ALSO READ: 'He is available' - Ten Hag offers huge United fitness update ALSO READ: 'He's far away' - Ten Hag hits back at Ronaldo's latest United dig Those Ronaldo comments filled the void during the international break, which is a dangerous time for managers feeling the pressure.
After two defeats in the first three Premier League games this season, Ten Hag certainly falls into that category. So having seen the 39-year-old's views on his own managerial style and on United travel around the globe in the previous 24 hours, Ten Hag would have been expecting to be asked about them at his pre-match press conference for Saturday's trip to Southampton.
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