Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has explained why Cristiano Ronaldo struggled to fit into his plans at Old Trafford, pointing to the Portuguese superstar’s physical condition and inability to meet the demands of his preferred style of play.

Speaking to ESPN NL on Sunday, Ten Hag acknowledged Ronaldo’s status as one of football’s greatest players but questioned whether the forward could still perform at the highest level.

“In my opinion, Cristiano Ronaldo is undoubtedly a fantastic player and one of the greatest players of all time,” Ten Hag said.

“But the truth is that, over the last seven or eight years, he has no longer been capable of performing at that level.”

The Dutch coach stressed that physical fitness is essential for success in top-level football, insisting that players who cannot maintain peak condition will struggle to compete.

“It’s simple: if you’re not in peak physical condition, whether in the Premier League, the Champions League, or with the Portuguese national team, you simply have no chance of succeeding,” he explained.

Ten Hag also recalled his initial conversation with Ronaldo when he took charge of Manchester United in 2022, revealing that he had outlined the style of football he wanted the team to play.

“When I started the job at Man United, I explained to Cristiano Ronaldo the style of play we intended to adopt,” he said.

However, Ten Hag suggested that understanding the team’s tactical approach was not enough, as Ronaldo also needed to demonstrate the physical commitment required to execute it.

“But ultimately, you have to bring something to the table yourself, and he no longer had the ability to endure the hard work required,” the former United manager added.

He further explained that his expectations included players pushing themselves to their limits during training and maintaining the highest possible fitness levels.

“That means pushing himself to his absolute limits every day, training at maximum intensity, and maintaining peak physical fitness,” Ten Hag concluded.

Ronaldo’s time under Ten Hag at Manchester United ended controversially in November 2022, when the forward left the club by mutual agreement following his explosive interview with Piers Morgan.

Despite the disagreement over his role and the team’s playing philosophy, Ronaldo remains one of the most decorated footballers in history.