–
Journalist
Passionate about football since a young age, becoming a sports journalist quickly became obvious to Hugo. He would later discover a love for the NBA, before exploring other horizons such as Formula 1 and the NFL.
Assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson between 1999 and 2001, then to Erik ten Hag from 2022 to last May, Steve McCLaren witnessed the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, after his second stint at Manchester United. The current Jamaica coach believes that the Dutch technician was right to attack the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, whose contract had been terminated by the Red Devils.
Returned in the summer of 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo had left Manchester United a little over a year later, in November 2022. Following an interview with Piers Morganin which he openly criticized his coach, Erik ten Hag, the contract of the Portuguese international (212 caps) had been terminated by the Red Devils. ” I have no respect for him because he shows no respect for me “, he had notably declared Cristiano Ronaldo.
“If you weren’t running, you weren’t playing”
Near the Telegraph, Steve McCLarenassistant ofErik ten Hag until last May, he who had also been alongside Sir Alex Ferguson between 1999 and 2001, returned to this episode: ” I can’t fault Ten Hag’s approach. He handled the situation very well. I said at the time that he was the man for the job. The way he handled it [le départ de Cristiano] Ronaldo is proof of that. He came with a set of criteria. Fixed rules. A way of playing. And if you didn’t run, you didn’t play. He was very strict about that. Like the Dutch. He knew that was what was needed. There was no flexibility, the players couldn’t shirk that responsibility.. »
“He attacked Ronaldo, rightly so”
” That’s what had to be done, otherwise we wouldn’t have played. He attacked Ronaldo, rightly so. “, added Steve McCLaren. ” Other coaches have tried to adapt. Erik didn’t think it was necessary. Ralf Rangnick tried and it didn’t really work, as did Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. So Ten Hag stuck to his principles and developed other players.. »
“That was the key to success”
A necessary requirement for a club like Manchester United according to the current coach of the Jamaica : ” That was the key to success. He wasn’t afraid to bring on youngsters. In cases like the lateness to meetings, which has been well documented, the one at Wolves, where Marcus Rashford was a minute or two late to a meeting on a match day, he benched him. He benched him. He brought him on and he scored the winning goal. Those things are important. Discipline was important. Standards are important. Behaviour was important. Everyone knows that about United. That’s what Ten Hag brought. Some people didn’t like it – that’s normal – but he never changed his mind. That’s his strength.. »
