Erik ten Hag, the former technical director of Manchester United, has been critical of Cristiano Ronaldo's performance. According to Ten Hag, Ronaldo has not been performing at a high level for 7 or 8 years. During his time at Manchester United, Ten Hag worked closely with Ronaldo, explaining how the team wanted to play, his role, and what he expected from him. However, Ronaldo ultimately had to deliver himself. Ten Hag believes that if a player is not fit, they are not competitive, and that Ronaldo struggled to maintain his fitness levels. Ronaldo had a special status at Manchester United, with Ten Hag having previously spoken to him about the team's expectations. Hans Kraay jr. suggests that the image of Ronaldo always being top fit is not accurate, and that he could not maintain his fitness levels.