Erik ten Hag had to 'walk through minefields' in his first few months at Manchester United as he dealt with the Cristiano Ronaldo situation, according to a close friend of the Reds manager.
The Dutchman endured a nightmare start to the season - losing to Brighton and Brentford on the opening two weekends of the campaign. After a frustrating beginning to his reign as manager, Ten Hag dropped Ronaldo to the bench following the 4-0 thrashing at Brentford.
It was clear that the Portuguese forward was unhappy at Old Trafford, and he refused to come on as a substitute in a home victory over Tottenham Hotspur in October, before storming down the tunnel ahead of the final whistle. He missed the following game against Chelsea as a result.
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Ronaldo went on to part company with United in November following his controversial interview with Piers Morgan. The 38-year-old accused Ten Hag of 'betraying him', while also slamming the club's owners and several of his former teammates.
United have gone from strength to strength without the veteran frontman, with Ten Hag's side winning the club's first piece of silverware in six years by lifting the Carabao Cup last weekend. The Reds secured a 2-0 victory over Newcastle at Wembley.
Now, Hans Kraay, a close friend and former teammate of Ten Hag at De Graafschap, has opened up on the tense situation when the former Ajax boss arrived at United.
"Erik deserves this success at United. People do not realise that he had to walk through minefields at United in his first five months," he told the Daily Mirror. "It was chaos at the club for a start - and there were the mines laid by Cristiano Ronaldo. Erik went to United because he saw the potential and the challenge.
"You know what [Louis] Van Gaal said to Ten Hag, don't you? 'Erik, it is one big mess at United, don't go there.' But Erik did, he did not mind sorting it all out and didn't mind walking around Cristiano's landmines. What is great about Erik is that he is down to earth and never wants to be a flash manager like some managers.
"He is not like Jose Mourinho. When he went into his first day of training, he wanted to go in a van with his own cones in the back. That sums him up."
Ten Hag has rejuvenated the club since he arrived in the summer, with the Reds currently the only side in England still in contention to win four trophies this term. United currently sit third in the Premier League table, while also progressing to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a 3-1 win over West Ham in midweek.
Moreover, the Reds will take on Spanish side Real Betis in their UEFA Europa League last-16 tie.
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