ERIK TEN HAG adapted a classic statement from Cristiano Ronaldo following Manchester United’s 3-0 victory over Southampton.

Ten Hag has been in a verbal spat with Ronaldo for the past week, having previously feuded with the superstar during his second tenure at Manchester United in 2022.After Marcus Rashford scored his first Premier League goal in SIX MONTHS, Ten Hag spoke about what he wants from Rashford going ahead.

The Dutchman told TNT Sports, “It’s very crucial. Every striker wants to be on the scoring list.

“Once the first is in, more will come. A striker once mentioned a ketchup bottle, saying, “Once it’s gone, it’s coming again.”

His strange ketchup comparison is one that Ronaldo has previously used to explain when a striker is in goal-scoring form.Ronaldo had previously given the condiment-themed advise to Portugal teammate Diogo Jota, and he has used the quip several times throughout his career, first referencing it in 2010.

In reality, he made the humorous remark during the Champions League league stage draw just two weeks ago.

In between playing an important role in the draw and pushing his magic buzzer, the great Manchester United striker said: “I was the most expensive player in the world, and there was always pressure ‘when are you going to win the Champions League?’

“And we waited for around six years, but as you know, the Champions League and goals are like ketchup. “When you open, they start coming!”However, Ten Hag used the remark without making any direct reference to the Al-Nassr superstar.

Instead, he appeared to refer to Ronaldo as “a striker” during his interview.The pair are still feuding after Ronaldo blasted Ten Hag’s mentality and suggested Manchester United needed to “rebuild everything”.

Ronaldo stated on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, “As I told you, Manchester, they need to rebuild everything, in my opinion.”

“The coach claims they cannot contend for the League and Champions League.

“[As] Manchester United’s coach, you cannot say that you will not fight to win the League or Champions League.

“You have to be, to psychologically say, listen, perhaps we don’t have the potential, but I can’t say that. We’re going to try. “You have to try.”

Ten Hag, on the other hand, issued a sharp reaction to the statements, claiming that Ronaldo is the one who believes Manchester United aren’t good enough to contend for the major championships.He remarked: “He [Ronaldo] said Manchester United couldn’t win the Premier League. He said this if you read the paper carefully.

Other than: “[It] doesn’t impact me, I know in the process where we are, where we’re going.”

Ten Hag and Ronaldo have a relationship dating back to his return to Old Trafford in 2022.

In truth, Ronaldo spent less than half a season with the former Ajax manager when he returned to Manchester United.

The Portuguese powerhouse had his contract terminated in November 2022 after he slammed his then-boss in an explosive interview with Piers Morgan.The bitter finish to Ronaldo’s homecoming enabled the five-time Ballon d’Or winner to seal his move to Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr.

Since moving to the Middle East, Ronaldo has 62 goals and 17 assists in 68 matches.