Erik ten Hag pinches famous Cristiano Ronaldo quote as Marcus Rashford ends his Man United goal drought - after Portuguese star reignited feud with his former boss
- Ten Hag made the remark after Rashford ended his lengthy wait for a goal
- The United boss and Ronaldo have been locked in a bitter war of words lately
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Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag felt it was appropriate to borrow a phrase used by Cristiano Ronaldo as Marcus Rashford ended his wait for a Premier League goal.
Rashford got on the scoresheet in United's 3-0 victory over a 10-man Southampton as the 26-year-old's agonising six-month wait for a Premier League goal finally came to an end.
The forward's goal came either side of strikes from Matthijs de Ligt and Alejandro Garnacho as the Red Devils earned their second win of the season.
Ten Hag was delighted Rashford's scoring drought was broken and felt a phrase coined by Ronaldo was apt as the Dutch boss anticipated there was more to come from his winger.
'It's very important,' Ten Hag told TNT Sports.
Marcus Rashford celebrates after scoring Manchester United's second against Southampton
Red Devils boss Ten Hag used Ronaldo's analogy in what he hopes Rashford's goal will do
Cristiano Ronaldo famously described a striker finding form like opening a bottle of ketchup
'For every striker, they want to be on the scoring list. Once the first is in, more is coming.
'Once a striker was talking about a ketchup bottle, once it's going, it's coming more.'
The striker Ten Hag referenced was, of course, Ronaldo.
The 39-year-old has previously used the analogy as a way to say once a forward breaks their goal drought, there's plenty more to come.
Ronaldo shared the phrase with Portuguese teammate Diogo Jota.
The Liverpool star revealed Ronaldo said finding the back of the net is just like 'opening a bottle of ketchup' in the sense that 'once the first drop comes out, everything comes out.'
Ronaldo even brought the analogy along to the Champions League draw in August.
'I was the most expensive player in the world and there was always pressure, 'When are you gong to win the Champions League?'' Ronaldo said.
Marcus Rashford's goal proved pivotal in helping Manchester United beat Southampton 3-0
Ten Hag and Ronaldo have had a simmering feud ever since the latter's exit in November 2022
'And we spent like six years [waiting], but as you know the Champions League and the goals, they are like ketchup. When you open, they start coming.'
Ten Hag's refusal to mention Ronaldo by name when referencing the quote was the latest in their simmering feud that was brought back to life.
Ronaldo told the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast that the Red Devils 'need to rebuild everything' and reserved special criticism for Ten Hag, the coach that sold him.
'The coach, they say they cannot compete to win the league and Champions League,' Ronaldo said.
'[As] Manchester United coach, you cannot say that you're not going to fight to win the league or Champions League.
Ronaldo slammed Ten Hag's claim United can't win the Premier League or Champions League
The two have been locked in a war of words ever since Ronaldo departed for Saudi Arabia
'You have to be, to mentally say, listen, maybe we don't have that potential, but I cannot say that. We're going to try. You have to try.'
Ten Hag issued a fiery response in his press conference on Friday and pointed it was only the Portuguese superstar who had been making such remarks.
'He [Ronaldo] said that Manchester United can't win the Premier League,' Ten Hag said.
'He said this if you read the article very well.'
Ten Hag added: '[It] doesn't impact me, I know in the process where we are, where we're going.'
Since Ronaldo's tumultuous exit from the club in November 2022, Ten Hag has guided the Red Devils to a Carabao Cup and an FA Cup.
However, the Dutchman also oversaw a dismal finish of eighth in the Premier League last season and will be desperate to avoid a repeat.
