The Dutchman hit back at Cristiano Ronaldo after the former United player made some comments regarding the current MUFC boss on the fact that he [ten Hag] said that the club cannot win titles.
The Man Utd manager's reply was:
"He said that United can’t win the Premier League. He said this if you read the article very well. He’s far away in Saudi, far away from Manchester. Everyone can have an opinion. It’s okay."
The manager also mentioned some bad team news as both Luke Shaw and Rasmus Hojlund will miss Saturday's game as it comes too soon for them despite them "progressing very well."
On the other hand, ten Hag says that Manuel Ugarte is "available for this game" after the Uruguayan returned from international duty this afternoon.
In terms of the external noise, Erik ten Hag says that "It doesn’t impact me, I know in the process where we are. And what we have to do. Where we are going."
He adds that his side will do their best to win every match and then see where they are at the end of the season. He is aware of the process, something that he constantly mentions, and that he knows what needs to be done. "I have said before we are still in a transition period."
Erik ten Hag also feels that despite the poor start to the season, he and the players believe that the club is headed in the right direction. "But the players have a very good sense of the process, and the quality of the process."
Quotes via The United Stand on X.
Final Thoughts
I'm not exactly sure what he's trying to say about Ronaldo's comments and how we can't win the Premier League. When ten Hag says that "he's far away in Saudi", it suggests to me that the manager thinks because he is far away, Ronaldo doesn't really know what's going on at United so shouldn't speak much regarding his former club.
CR7's earlier comments were that he can't understand how the manager can say that his side can't win the league and Champions League. It's not a mindset he can get behind. I do understand that too but we have to be realistic, we cannot win the PL at the moment and we aren't even in the Champions League so we obviously can't win that.
The ambition should always be there though, and I think this is what Ronaldo means, whether it's realistic or not.
You can read Ronaldo's quotes here.
But as the manager always says, we have to win every game. Do that, and we will win everything. That is of course, easier said than done.
One thing that does frustrate me with ten Hag is that he speaks about the process and plan all the time.
But, what the hell is it?
I don't know 🤷. I thought it was going to be United playing like his Ajax side and we compete for titles. Yes, it will take time but we're now in year three and I (and I think all of us) still cannot see what this process is. He mentions again that we are in a transition period but we appear to have been in one ever since he came to the club.
We need to start seeing some improvement in terms of performances and results. This needs to be consistent as well. And it should start on Saturday.
As for the team news, it's no surprise that Shaw and Hojlund are out despite there being rumors that they could return.
But good news that Ugarte is available. However, I have a feeling ten Hag won't start him and instead opt for Casemiro. I can see the manager slowly easing in the new midfielder before he eventually becomes a starter rather than throwing him in straight away.
This is just a gut feeling because he's done it before.
It would be a stupid decision imo because of how Casemiro is performing, how well Ugarte has played for his country and that we aren't in a position to be taking risks. We need our strongest possible lineup all the time and Ugarte is part of it.
Background Image: Rasmus Hojlund in Man Utd training | Image via Manchester United official X (@ManUtd)