As Portuguese newspaper A Bola today features a long interview with Dutch legend Ruud Gullit, the former Oranje star had a lot to say about Manchester United.
He was quizzed about the job that Erik ten Hag has been doing in charge of the Red Devils, and made a quite positive evaluation of what the coach has been able to do so far.
“I’m surprised, we’re all surprised, with Erik ten Hag at Manchester United. The Dutch Eredivisie does not have the same levels of competitiveness as the Premier League, perhaps the most attractive championship in world football, but the truth is that he was able to impose a work philosophy and the playing formula that he advocates,” Gullit told A Bola.
“Personally, I think that the very controversial episode with Cristiano Ronaldo ended up benefiting him. At that moment, with what he said and did, he won over the dressing room and the fans. The results confirm it.”
Gullit was then asked if he was surprised by Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabia after leaving Manchester United, and had a quite positive answer about that.
“That’s what Cristiano decided! His time at Manchester United, after the run-ins with Erik ten Hag, ran out of steam. In the end, the situation turned out to benefit both of them. Cristiano is happy where he is, Erik ten Hag too, they both won.”
Cristiano Ronaldo only had three goals and two assists in 16 appearances for Manchester United until the World Cup break, when he officially decided to leave the Red Devils.
Things have indeed improved for both parties since then. At Al-Nassr, the forward already has nine goals and two assists in 10 appearances, and that guaranteed that he’s still in the national team squad for the upcoming games.
Manchester United, meanwhile, have won the League Cup, stayed alive in the Europa League and the FA Cup, and moved forward to guarantee a top four position in the Premier League.
