Cristiano Ronaldo gave a scathing interview where he criticized younger players and said his Manchester United teammates have a mentality problem

• Cristiano Ronaldo criticized young soccer players and the mentality of his teammates in a scathing interview.
• Young players are unwilling to listen to feedback these days, Ronaldo suggested on Sky Sports.

In a scathing assessment of his team, Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo said that his teammates have a "mentality" problem that needs to be fixed if they are to improve, and that he didn't come back to the UK to finish sixth in the league.

United has lost just one match since Ralf Rangnick took over as manager in late November following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The team's performances, however, have remained lackluster, with draws at Newcastle United and Chelsea meaning Rangnick's side still sit seventh in the table.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Ronaldo — who rejoined the club from Juventus during the summer — praised Rangnick but hit out at his teammates.

"Since [Rangnick] arrived, I think in some ways we are better, but he needs time, it's not that easy to change the mentality of players, the way they play, the system and the culture like that," said the Portuguese star, who is the club's top scorer this season with 14 goals in all competitions.

"So I believe he's going to do a good job.

"The system is useful, but not if the mentality is not there in the pitch. This is why I say we have a long way to improve because, for me, the most important thing is for you to look at yourself and say: 'I can do better. I can help the team much more.'

"The system, yes, it's important, details make the huge difference at the end of the day but, for me, the most important thing is the mentality, for you to be strong, to help the team, the right mentality, self-taught positives."

Young players don't take feedback well, Ronaldo says

Ronaldo seemed to take particular aim at younger players, who he implied are not good at taking on board feedback.

"If I give you advice, even if you are younger than me, if you don't implant that during your daily life, it will be difficult," he said.

"I can speak all day with that person, but if it's not coming from inside of you, it's impossible. I remember when I was 18, 19, 20, some older players spoke with me, but I put that as: 'Cristiano, you have to improve — they know more than you, they are more experienced than you, they passed through many bad moments.'

"But other people, they don't accept that, if you criticize them. I don't say this in relation to our players, but in general. I have kids, I know. Sometimes when you're a little bit harder, they do the opposite, so you have to find the right balance to speak with them."

Though United sit seventh in the table, it still remains just six points behind fourth place West Ham United and has two games in hand.

Rangnick's side also remain in both the FA Cup, where it faces Middlesbrough in the fourth round, and the Champions League, where it faces Atletico Madrid in the last-16.

"We have huge potential to win stuff, to win important things, but we have to find the best way to achieve that result," said Ronaldo.

"But we have a few things that we have to change, and we have to accept when you are not in your best shape or moment. We have a long way to improve but we have to think things are going to change, to be in a better place."

"Manchester United belongs to important things. I don't want to be here at the club, to fight for sixth or seventh place, or fifth. I'm here to try to win, to compete."

Ronaldo's comments come against a background of rumors that the Manchester United dressing room is divided under Rangnick's rule, with Portuguese speaking players like Ronaldo split from non-Portuguese speakers.

"I've been told there is a definite split with the Portuguese speakers and the non-Portuguese speakers," journalist Alex Crook said during a recent appearance on a radio show hosted by former England international Darren Bent.