Ten Hag’s shocked us all in Holland & the Ronaldo bombshell ended up helping him

DUTCH legend Ruud Gullit says compatriot Erik ten Hag has shocked everyone back home with the job he has done at Manchester United.

And the former Chelsea and Newcastle manager claims that his explosive fall-out with Cristiano Ronaldo has actually helped him at Old Trafford.

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Ten Hag arrived at Old Trafford last summer with the club on a six-year trophy drought.

Despite a rocky start, he has slowly transformed the Red Devils into a thrilling attacking unit with Marcus Rashford now one of the most-lethal strikers in Europe.

Last month he won his first piece of silverware as United beat Newcastle to lift the Carabao Cup.

They are also pushing for two more trophies, with a Europa League quarter final against Sevilla on the horizon as well as an FA Cup semi with Brighton.

And United remain on course to secure a top four finish and a return to Champions League football as they sit third in the Premier League, three points ahead of fifth-placed Newcastle.

And Gullit admitted during an interview with A Bola that he and everyone else back in Holland are impressed with how well the ex-Ajax man has done.

He said: “I’m surprised, we’re all surprised, with Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.

“The Dutch Eredivisie does not have the same levels of competitiveness as the Premier League, perhaps the most attractive championship in world football, but the truth is that he was able to impose a work philosophy and the playing formula that he advocates.”

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Ten Hag was also on the receiving end of a fierce public attack from Cristiano Ronaldo after benching the Portuguese legend earlier in the campaign.

But he refused to be drawn into a slanging match and the 37-year-old forward ended up having his contract terminated in December and is now earning a fortune playing in Saudi Arabia while his old team continue to thrive.

Gullit added: “Personally, I think that the very controversial episode with Cristiano Ronaldo ended up benefiting him. At that moment, with what he said and did, he won over the dressing room and the fans. The results confirm it.

“That’s what Cristiano decided! His time at Manchester United, after the run-ins with Erik ten Hag, ran out of steam.

“In the end, the situation turned out to benefit both of them. Cristiano is happy where he is, Erik ten Hag too, they both won.”