Manchester United’s boss Erik Ten Hag has hit back at Cristiano Ronaldo over criticism. Recently Ronaldo claimed that the Dutchman said they were not going to win the Premier League or the Champions League and thus the Portuguese wasn’t impressed with the gaffer’s mentality.

Ronaldo signed with the Red Devils in 2021 but moved to Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League after his controversial interview with Piers Morgan. While speaking to the Brit, Ronaldo slammed Erik Ten Hag and also the club for adopting old strategies and not evolving with time.

“He said that; That Manchester United can’t win the Premier League,” Ten Hag, who fell out with Ronaldo during their time together at the club, said.

“He said this. If you read the article very well. He is far away in Saudi, far away from Manchester so everyone can have an opinion and is entitled to have an opinion. It is OK.”

Meanwhile, CEO Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth have backed Ten Hag. The Dutchman is under pressure after a 3-0 loss against Liverpool before the international break.

“It doesn’t impact me,” Ten Hag said. “I know in the process where we are, where we’re going. We’re in the transition period, we have to integrate a lot of young players in the team.

“We have to bring the injuries back into the team. Before anyone thinks about excuses, we have to win every game, I know that. The team knows this. We will focus on every game and have the mindset we have to win.”

Ten Hag has confirmed that Luke Shaw and Rasmus Højlund won’t play against Southampton on Saturday.