Steve McLaren reveals why Erik ten Hag had to axe Cristiano Ronaldo at Man Utd

Steve McClaren insists that Erik ten Hag adopted the right approach with Cristiano Ronaldo despite the spectacular breakdown in their relationship.

Ronaldo, 39, completed a fairytale return to Manchester United one year prior to Ten Hag's arrival at Old Trafford, where he plundered 24 goals in all competitions. But he didn't feature as often under Ten Hag - and things eventually came to a head.

The veteran forward conducted an explosive interview with Piers Morgan where he tore into Ten Hag, who he claimed had "betrayed" him. There was no way back after that and Ronaldo's contract was subsequently terminated early and he went on to join Al-Nassr.

McClaren was a key figure in Ten Hag's coaching team at the time of Ronaldo's exit - and he feels the United boss was in the right after the situation blew up.

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Speaking to The Telegraph, he said: “I couldn’t fault his [Ten Hag’s] approach. He really handled it very well. I said at the time he was the right man to go in. That was shown in the way he handled [the departure of] Ronaldo.

“He [Ten Hag] came in with set standards. Set rules. Set way of playing. And if you didn’t run, you didn’t play. He was rigid on that. Which the Dutch are. He knew that was what was needed. There could be no flexibility, no way the players could manoeuvre [out of that responsibility].

“This is what you had to do – or you didn’t play. And he took on Ronaldo, and quite rightly. Other managers have tried to adapt. Erik didn’t feel it was necessary to do that. [Ralf] Rangnick had tried and it hadn’t quite worked out and Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] the same. So he [Ten Hag] stuck to his guns and developed other players.”

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While Ronaldo has spent the last two years in Saudi Arabia, his frosty relationship with Ten Hag has shown no sign of thawing. He aimed another swipe at his former boss as recently as this month on the the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast.

He said: “The coach, they say they cannot compete to win the League and Champions League. (As) Manchester United coach, you cannot say that you're not going to fight to win the League or Champions League.

“You have to be, to mentally say, listen, maybe we don't have that potential, but I cannot say that. We're going to try. You have to try.”

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