![](\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SEI_129742174-94a0.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Former Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan admits Cristiano Ronaldo\u2019s \u2018tougher mindset\u2019 caused friction among the squad.<\/p>\n
Manchester United news, exclusives and analysis<\/p>\n
Ronaldo made a surprise return to United in August 2021 and scored 24 goals in his first season back at Old Trafford.<\/p>\n
However, United endured a turbulent campaign as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked in the November following a run of just one win in seven Premier League games. Much to Ronaldo\u2019s dismay, United ended up appointing Ralf Rangnick as interim manager for the remainder of the season and the team ended up finishing sixth in the table.<\/p>\n
Ronaldo cut a frustrated figure in his second season at United under Erik ten Hag and following a bombshell interview in which he slammed the Dutchman, as well as the club\u2019s hierarchy, the Portugal international\u2019s contract was terminated, which paved the way for his move to Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
Phelan worked with Ronaldo during both of his spells at United and has revealed that the 38-year-old made his frustration clear when he failed to galvanise certain members of the squad before his departure.<\/p>\n
\u2018The second time round, he came in a lot older and a lot more opinionated, strong-willed,\u2019 Phelan told Sky Sports.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/metro-parent\/img\/fallback.png\")
<\/p>\n
\u2018He still had massively high standards and was terrific to work with. But I\u2019d probably say a tougher mindset. He had been at Man United, he had been Portugal\u2019s ever-present, he had been at Madrid.<\/p>\n
\u2018I liked it because he didn\u2019t want his standards to drop, he wanted other people\u2019s standards to come up. And sometimes you lose a few people along the way when that happens<\/p>\n
\u2018I remember certain times when he pushed and pushed hard, and he didn\u2019t get much reaction or much response. And there was frustration.<\/p>\n
\u2018When you deal with top, top people, it\u2019s about them and where they can finish and where they can get to. They want to look back and go, \u2018wow, that was successful\u2019. And he probably realised, and I don\u2019t know as I never had that conversation with him, that he couldn\u2019t do it at Manchester United. So his challenges were elsewhere.<\/p>\n
\u2018He\u2019s still playing international football, yes he\u2019s in Saudi Arabia, but he\u2019s still playing and scoring goals. He is doing all the things we knew he could do at Manchester United.<\/p>\n
\u2018But a really good personality, hard-working and challenging. He challenged me as a coach, Carlos Queiroz as a coach and Sir Alex as a manager. But that\u2019s good because it takes you to another level.\u2019<\/p>\n