CRISTIANO RONALDO REVEALED ERIK TEN HAG NEEDS TO BE GIVEN TIME AT MANCHESTER UNITED
Ronaldo revealed United players are ‘happy and excited’ about ten Hag’s arrival
Cristiano Ronaldo has warned that Erik ten Hag will need to be given time in order to transform Manchester United’s fortunes.
Ten Hag, who capped off his tenure with Ajax by winning the Eredivise title at the weekend, will take charge of United this summer and he has a considerably difficult challenge ahead in attempting to immediately improve the club’s fortunes.
United, who are in sixth place in the Premier League, have endured many struggles this season and star man Ronaldo says that while the United squad are excited at the prospect of working under Ten Hag, patience must be extended to Ten Hag in his rebuild.
Ronaldo told United’s official website: ‘What I know about him is he did a fantastic job for Ajax, that he’s an experienced coach. But we need to give him time.
‘Things need to change the way he wants.
‘I hope we have success, of course, because, if you have success, all of Manchester is going to have success as well. I wish him the best.’
Ronaldo, 37, is hopeful that Ten Hag will bring United’s wait for a trophy to an end as he prepares for the second year of his deal since returning from Juventus.
He added: ‘We are happy and excited, not only as players, but the supporters as well.
‘I wish him the best and let’s believe that, next year, we are going to win trophies.’
Ronaldo’s comments on the arrival of Ten Hag suggest that he is likely to stay at United despite the fact that they won’t be involved in the Champions League next season.
Although United have lacked consistency this campaign, Ronaldo has still managed to contribute with 24 goals, 18 of which have come in the Premier League.
The 37-year-old’s current United deal runs until the summer of 2023 and he will be determined to make next season a memorable one after such a flat campaign from this group under Ralf Rangnick.
United haven’t won the Premier League title since 2013, while they haven’t lifted any silverware since 2017.
An overhaul of the squad is required at Old Trafford, with many players having not performed sufficiently this season.
Ten Hag won the league title three times with Ajax and lifted the KNVB Cup twice but he will be under immediate pressure to make an impact at United.
United are certainly in need of some stability having undergone a host of managerial changes since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013.
This season they started off under the guidance of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with Michael Carrick then stepping in as caretaker before Rangnick took over as interim boss.
On Thursday, Sportsmail revealed that new Manchester United manager Ten Hag called a vital planning meeting in Amsterdam as his Old Trafford reign gets underway.
Intriguingly, Sportsmail understands that Steve McClaren was summoned to Holland as part of the talks – a major indication that the former England boss is closing in on a return to United under Ten Hag.
After watching Ajax crowned Eredivise champions on Wednesday night, Ten Hag has wasted no time in planning for next season with United.
The Dutch coach led a strategy meeting – that included his long term assistant Mitchell van der Gaag and a member of staff from United’s recruitment team – understood to be football director John Murtough.
