There’s no doubt Erik ten Hag was informed about the mammoth task he has at hand before being appointed at Manchester United. However, little prepares a new manager for the dramas they will encounter at Old Trafford until they officially step into the hot seat.
The Dutchman must face his first tough test already thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo.
Pre-season peril
The dilemma came about when the Portuguese striker signalled his intention to leave United if a suitable offer is made and cited personal reasons for his absence from the pre-season tour.
Over the weekend, Ronaldo made his highly-anticipated return and played in the first 45 minutes in a friendly against Rayo Vallecano; before being substituted at half-time. Instead of staying until the match had finished. Which would be considered normal protocol. He decided to cause a stir by leaving at half-time.
It was a bold move. One that sums up United’s problems off the pitch. It makes you wonder whether the players have the final say over the manager.
Various rumours and theories as to why some players left early were laid to bed by Ten Hag himself.
“This is unacceptable. I tell them this, that’s unacceptable. We are a team, we are a squad. You have to stay until the end.”
Erik ten Hag in an interview with Viaplay
Best move for the club?
Suddenly, the Ronaldo transfer saga has turned into a circus before the first Premier League matchday.
Early signs from Ten Hag during pre-season have been promising as a new identity and playing style seem to be forming on the pitch. However, a complete transformation can’t be made until all distractions are gone behind the scenes. Well, the obvious and sensible move to make when a player is unhappy is to sell them. But it’s not that straightforward when it comes to one of the biggest names in sport.
Ronaldo is believed to want to spend the coming season at a club that can cover his wages and offer Champions League football. This clearly limits the pool of potential buyers.
United will be selling much more than just a precious commodity. They’ll also be selling their top goalscorer, and while it may prevent dressing room unrest, it will also leave the team threadbare in attack.
This is an opportunity for Ten Hag to stamp his authority and restore the discipline United have lacked for years.
Ronaldo’s Perspective
From Ronaldo’s perspective it makes sense to leave. He is desperate to rack up more personal accolades and cement his goalscoring record in the Champions League; a competition he has won on five occasions.
At 37, the Portuguese icon is hungry for more silverware. Something he is unlikely to attain at a club on their longest trophy drought in four decades. One that also just recorded their lowest-ever points tally in the Premier League era.
Taking part in Ten Hag’s long-term rebuilding project simply doesn’t align with Ronaldo’s short-term goals at this stage of his career. But, he doesn’t have a long line of clubs desperate to secure his signature either.
So there’s a real possibility that he sees out the remainder of his contract. If he does, he’ll need to adapt to the new system instead of the team adapting to him.
Style of play
It’s needless to say that Ronaldo is a consistent goalscorer. There are few that can match his quality in front of goal when there is an endless supply of chances. If he is leading the line, the team needs to be comfortable in possession, capable of sustaining attacking pressure and delivering crosses into the box.
However, Ronaldo’s link-up isn’t exactly his strong suit. Moreover he doesn’t have the physical capability to press from the front or counter-press when they lose the ball. This forces everyone else around him to cover the extra yards which was the case at United last season.
Finding a replacement
Regardless of whether Ronaldo stays or goes, United still lack depth in the striker department and Ten Hag will need multiple attacking options who can all chip in with goals.
Bitter rivals Manchester City and Liverpool have pounced for Europe’s most highly sought-after strikers in Erling Haaland and Darwin Nunez. Both have spent pre-season bedding them into their already talented line-up; while United are scrambling to find one of their own.
The majority of United’s goals last season came from an obvious source. Ronaldo finished as the club’s top scorer across all competitions (24) and the third-highest in the Premier League (18); just five behind Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-Min (23).
Yet United still finished with a goal difference of precisely zero – scoring and conceding 57 league goals. Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial were a shadow of their former self. While Jadon Sancho was struggling to adjust to the rigours of the Premier League.
There have been some encouraging signs in pre-season by all three of these players in a forward line that looked balanced and fluid. However, Ten Hag will be banking on all of them to recapture their best form. While they’ve certainly got the talent to do so; it’s unlikely they can match Ronaldo’s astonishing output in front of goal.
The solution?
Many can continue to question if Ronaldo was the problem at United last season, but there is certainly no debate about whether he is a problem now.
In theory, the possibility of losing one of the greatest footballers to ever grace the game would be upsetting for most. However, the overriding feeling across the fanbase might actually be one of relief as Ronaldo’s exit could improve Ten Hag’s chances of building a cohesive team dynamic – one that is united on and off the pitch.
It’s a fairytale that won’t have a happy ending. It’s time for Ten Hag to instil a clear philosophy – one that reminds all the players that one individual will never be bigger than Manchester United Football Club.