Ten Hag breaks silence on Ronaldo's Man United departure and outlines trophy hopes

The Dutchman was speaking for the first time since Ronaldo and United mutually agreed to terminate his contract.

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The decision came after a bombshell interview with Piers Morgan ahead of the World Cup in which Ronaldo savaged the manager, as well as the Old Trafford club and its owners.

The Portugal captain admitted he didn't have respect for Ten Hag, and alleged that the head coach no longer wanted him, and he felt 'betrayed'.

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The revelations fractured relationships between the club and player so much so that a break-up was inevitable, and it then came on November 22.

Now, with United in Spain training camp ahead of their return to action, Ten Hag finally revealed his thoughts to MUTV.

"He's gone and it's the past," he said. "We are now looking forward, and we're looking to the future."

It was a brief answer, but Ten Hag really was keen to move on, then talking about his hopes for the remainder of his debut season in England.

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"I have the feeling, we have the feeling, that we are in the right direction, but we also know that it's still a lot of work to do for us here," he continued.

"First, we have to get the team in the position where we can win something. That's our first focus. In December or January, no team wins a trophy. We have to get in the right position in April and that is what we have to work for.

"You have to be ready for that, but I think our players are used to it. Our players are winners, and they are battling now for the World Cup and in the moment they are out - hopefully one is the winner - they have to deal with that.

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"We make the players aware of the fact that, after you are out of the World Cup, you have to return to the club and the league immediately goes on."

Ten Hag isn't the only manager dealing with Ronaldo drama, though, with Portugal boss Fernando Santos dropping the 37-year-old for the first time in the World Cup.

He was duly rewarded as Ronaldo's replacement, Goncalo Ramos, bagged a hat-trick in a 6-1 win over Switzerland and sent his side through to the quarter-finals.