Fred has revealed new details about the breakdown between Cristiano Ronaldo and Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, saying the Dutch coach wanted a more intense running and pressing style that created problems for Ronaldo.
Fred Reveals Real Reason Ronaldo and Ten Hag Fell Out at Manchester United
Former Manchester United midfielder Fred has revealed new details about the breakdown between Cristiano Ronaldo and Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford.
The Brazilian played under Ten Hag during the Dutch coach’s first season at United and shared the dressing room with Ronaldo during the early stages of their famous dispute.
According to Fred, one of the biggest problems was Ten Hag’s desire to make United play with much more intensity.
He believes Ronaldo’s age and the coach’s physical demands helped create the conditions for their relationship to collapse.
Fred explains what started the problem
Speaking on Charla Podcast, Fred said Ten Hag wanted his Manchester United team to run and press aggressively.
But Ronaldo was already at a later stage of his career.
Fred explained:
“He wanted the team to run, but Cristiano was already older.”
He then added:
“He took Cristiano out and then there was a row.”
According to Fred, Ronaldo losing his regular place was an important moment in the breakdown between the player and manager.
Ten Hag wanted a different Man Utd
When Ten Hag arrived at Old Trafford, he wanted to introduce a more intense style of football.
That included stronger pressing, more movement and greater physical effort from the entire team.
Ronaldo had been one of United’s main goalscorers before Ten Hag arrived, but his role quickly changed under the new manager.
Fred’s latest comments suggest the tactical change was one of the main reasons why Ronaldo became less important in the starting XI.
Fred says Ten Hag argued with several stars
Fred also criticised Ten Hag’s management of the Manchester United dressing room.
Although he praised the Dutch coach’s tactical ability, he gave a very different assessment of his relationship with players.
Fred said:=
“He argued with everyone.”
He named himself, Ronaldo, Casemiro and Marcus Rashford among players who had disagreements with the manager.
Fred described Ten Hag as one of the strongest tactical coaches he had worked with, but said his management of the group was much weaker.
Ronaldo dispute later exploded publicly
The tension between Ronaldo and Ten Hag eventually became one of the biggest stories in world football.
In October 2022, Ronaldo refused to come on as a substitute against Tottenham and left Old Trafford before the final whistle.
Ten Hag then removed him from the squad for the following match against Chelsea.
The situation became even more serious when Ronaldo gave his explosive interview with Piers Morgan.
During that interview, Ronaldo said he did not respect Ten Hag because he felt the manager had not respected him.
Ronaldo eventually leaves Man Utd
Ronaldo’s contract with Manchester United was terminated by mutual agreement shortly after the interview.
He later moved to Al Nassr and continued his career in Saudi Arabia.
The full story behind his United exit has been debated ever since.
Fred’s latest comments now provide another view from someone who was inside the dressing room when the conflict developed.
Fred still praises Ten Hag tactically
Despite his strong criticism, Fred did not say Ten Hag was a poor coach in every area.
He continued to praise the Dutchman’s tactical knowledge.
Fred said Ten Hag was:
“Tactically very good.”
But he also claimed the manager was:
“Awful” with the group.
That distinction was central to Fred’s assessment of Ten Hag’s time at Manchester United.
New insight into famous Ronaldo conflict
Fred’s comments do not prove that tactical demands were the only reason for the Ronaldo-Ten Hag dispute.
Several other events later made the relationship worse.
But his account gives new context to how the problem began.
According to Fred, Ten Hag wanted a younger, more intense and hard-running team, Ronaldo lost his regular place, and the relationship quickly became difficult.
Years after Ronaldo’s dramatic Manchester United exit, the story continues to produce new details from inside the dressing room.
