Erik tenHag, coach of Twente, made a strong comment about Cristiano Ronaldo on ESPN's “Goedemorgen Eredivisie” program. In the interview, the Dutch coach recalled that at Manchester United he had been a mentor to the Portuguese star, but stated that the player has not been able to perform at the expected level in recent years.
TenHag explained that “every great team must have its best player, but the best player must also yield to the team.” According to the coach, the problem with Ronaldo is that, despite his fame, he has not managed to maintain the performance that was expected of him. “From Juventus onwards it was the end,” he declared, pointing out that Real Madrid “knows when to say goodbye to the players.” The commentator added that the Madrid club recognizes when a player's level decreases and acts before the public notices the decline.
The former coach also recalled the dynamic he established at Manchester United. “When I started at the club I explained to Ronaldo how we were going to play, what his role would be, what I expected from him and what he could expect from me and the team,” he said. However, he stressed that performance also depends on the player's own will. “He could no longer force himself to endure the pain, to give his all every day and to train as hard as he could to get in shape,” he commented. According to TenHag, if a player is not fit in the Premier League, Champions League or with the national team, he has no chance to continue competing at the highest level.
TenHag's comment comes at a time when Real Madrid continues to evaluate its squad following the departure of several key players. The club, which has displayed an aggressive transfer policy in recent years, appears to be prepared to make changes when deemed necessary. As the next rounds of La Liga and the Champions League approach, fans and analysts will continue to observe how Real Madrid manages its team and whether the performance of its players remains up to expectations.