Home / Sports / McClaren: Ronaldo's United exit divided squad
McClaren: Ronaldo's United exit divided squad
2 May
Summary
- Ronaldo clashed with Erik ten Hag over pressing demands.
- McClaren revealed squad was divided over Ten Hag and Ronaldo.
- Modern players lack automatic respect for coaches, says McClaren.
Former Manchester United assistant coach Steve McClaren has shed light on the circumstances surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo's departure from the club.
Ronaldo's second tenure at Old Trafford ended abruptly following significant disagreements with then-manager Erik ten Hag regarding his role and commitment to pressing demands.
McClaren explained that Ten Hag insisted on a high-pressing style, which Ronaldo was unwilling or unable to fully adopt. This led to a division within the squad, with roughly half supporting Ronaldo and the other half backing Ten Hag.
Comparing modern players to those of Sir Alex Ferguson's era, McClaren observed a decline in automatic respect for coaches. He noted that today's players primarily question a coach's ability to help them win matches, unlike the past where authority was more readily accepted.
While Ferguson had the time to establish his authority and deal with player challenges, McClaren suggested Ten Hag was afforded less patience, despite winning the Carabao Cup and FA Cup during his tenure.
