The Dutchman did not hold back in his response.

Erik ten Hag has responded to Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent comments criticising the Manchester United manager’s mentality.

Last week Ten Hag admitted to that he felt that United were “a long way” away from winning the Premier League following their disappointing start to the 2024/25 season.

The comments were immediately met by club legend Ronaldo, who argued that Ten Hag’s mentality would hold the club back and that he should bring in former United icons to help guide him.

And now, the Dutch manager has brutally responded to his former player.

Speaking ahead of United’s match against Southampton this weekend, Ten Hag said: “No, he said this. If you read the article very well. He is far away in Saudi, far away from Manchester. He is entitled to have an opinion, it is okay.”

His ruthless comment comes in response to Ronaldo’s statement earlier in the week criticising Ten Hag for his admission regarding United’s prospects this season.

“They need to rebuild everything, in my opinion. The coach, they say they cannot compete to win the league and Champions League. Manchester United coach, you cannot say that you’re not going to fight to win the league or Champions League,” Ronaldo told FIVE [via UtdReport].

The 39-year-old later suggested that Ten Hag did not truly know Manchester United, and should bring club legends like Rio Ferdinand, Roy Keane and Sir Alex Ferguson back to the club to guide him.

Ronaldo fell out with Ten Hag at United (Image: Getty)

Since leaving Old Trafford for the second time in 2022, Ronaldo has been very clear about his negative feelings regarding his former manager.

The tension in the pair’s relationship was at it’s worst after Ronaldo, who at the time still played for United, took part in a tell-all interview with Piers Morgan in which he stated that he felt “betrayed” by the manager and had “no respect” him.

Ronaldo had made a triumphant return to United little more than a year earlier, joining from Juventus for a reported fee of £12.8m.

But, the Portuguese striker’s comments during the interview eventually led to his contract with United being terminated half way through the 2022/23 season, leaving him free to join Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr in the January transfer window.