Manchester United

As part of a rebuild under the INOES banner, the Premier League giants made widespread changes to the board, backroom and playing staff during the off-season.

New minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has taken that approach to try to deliver an upturn in fortunes at a club that finished eighth in the top flight during 2023-24.

However, despite a narrow 1-0 victory over Fulham on the opening weekend of the season, United have since suffered defeats to Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool.

Not for the first time during his Old Trafford tenure, Ten Hag is now under pressure to deliver a response, the Dutchman defiant about the capabilities of his team even on the back of a 3-0 reverse to their fierce rivals last time out.

Ten Hag should listen to legends

Although Ronaldo possesses legendary status at the Theatre of Dreams, his second stint ended prematurely after a falling out with Ten Hag in December 2022.

The Portugal international has since gone on to star for Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, but he naturally still watches events unfold at United from afar, frustrated at his former club failing to challenge for the Premier League title.

Speaking on the latest Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, which will be released on Friday, Ronaldo has claimed that Ten Hag should be more receptive to advice from club legends, particularly Van Nistelrooy who he appointed as his assistant earlier in the summer.

Between 2001 and 2006, the Dutchman contributed 150 goals from 219 appearances, winning a Premier League and FA Cup during his time at the club.

Ronaldo said: "If Ten Hag listen to Ruud, maybe he can (help himself). I think it can help a lot because he knows the club and the club should listen to the guys who were there.

"You [Rio] or Roy Keane or Paul Scholes or Gary Neville, whatever, Sir Alex Ferguson. You cannot, you cannot rebuild a club without knowledge. Not guys who work in office. They understand.

"The people who understand the football, it was, 99% is the people who were there in the dressing room. They know how to deal with the players. It's the people who understand these things.

"So I believe that Ruud is going to help because he was inside the club. He knows the club. He knows the fans. If the coach listens to him, I think they can improve a little bit the club."

What next for United?

United resume their schedule after the international break with a trip to newly-promoted Southampton on September 14.

Matches against Barnsley (EFL Cup), Crystal Palace, FC Twente (Europa League) and Tottenham Hotspur follow before the end of the month.