Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag's handling of Cristiano Ronaldo was a defining moment in his Old Trafford career.
Hans Kraay, a close friend and former team-mate of Ten Hag at De Graafschap who is now a broadcaster in Holland, described the tense situation when he arrived at United.
"Erik deserves this success at United. People do not realise that he had to walk through minefields at United in his first five months," he told the Daily Mirror.
"It was chaos at the club for a start - and there were the mines laid by Cristiano Ronaldo. Erik went to United because he saw the potential and the challenge.
"You know what Van Gaal said to Ten Hag, don't you? 'Erik, it is one big mess at United, don't go there'.
"But Erik did, he did not mind sorting it all out and didn't mind walking around Cristiano's landmines.
"What is great about Erik is that he is down to earth and never wants to be a flash manager like some managers.
"He is not like Jose Mourinho. When he went into his first day of training, he wanted to go in a van on his own and through the back. That sums him up."
