Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has insisted that Cristiano Ronaldo is happy at the club – but not when he is left out of the starting line-up.
The Portuguese veteran was an unused substitute in United's 6-3 derby humbling against Manchester City last weekend with television cameras capturing the attacker's obvious frustration as he watched helpless from the sidelines at the Etihad Stadium.
All summer, Ronaldo had been linked with a move away from Old Trafford after United's failure to secure Champions League football but no European big guns came calling and the 37-year-old has been forced to remain at the club.
He could well start his fourth game of the season in Thursday's Europa League game against Omonia Nicosia but Ten Hag was left deflecting questions about the forward's future ahead of the game in Cyprus.
“That he’s not coming on when we are 4-0 down, 5-1 down, 6-1 down and I don’t bring him on out of respect,” Ten Hag said.
“So, nothing to do with what’s happening for the future, what’s happening for January or next year.
“I don’t see he is unhappy, so he is happy. He is training well. He’s enjoying, I think everyone is training well. It’s a good spirit in the training. That’s not the point, but it’s important because it’s a base to work well.”
When asked again about Ronaldo’s situation, Ten Hag said: “He’s not happy that he wasn’t playing Sunday, don’t get me wrong, but that wasn’t the question.
“The question was about how he is on the training pitch, his mood when he’s around and he’s happy.
“But of course he wants to play and he’s [angry] when he’s not playing. Clear.”
Man City 6 Man United 3: player ratings
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MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson 7: Very much a spectator in first half as City gave their rivals a masterclass in all areas of the pitch. No chance with wonderful Antony finish or Martial penalty. Saved well from Fred only for Martial to head home rebound. Reuters -
Kyle Walker 7: Miscued low Fernandes ball in 15th minute that ended with half-chance falling to Eriksen but had few other problems against hapless United. Limped off before half-time on what was his 400th league appearance. Getty -
Nathan Ake 8: In for the injured Stones and gave a near faultless performance for City who were without their first-choice centre-halves. PA -
Manuel Akanji 8: Swiss defender oozes confidence, timed his challenges perfectly and not afraid to carry the ball out from the back. Reuters -
Joao Cancelo 8: Slipped in low pass to Silva down wing who then set up opening goal. Switched to right flank when Walker went off injured but looked equally comfortable until giving away late penalty after City had taken foot off peddle. Reuters -
Ilkay Gundogan 8: Clipped free-kick in 18th minute against outside of post with De Gea beaten. The fulcrum in midfield who rarely wastes a pass. Getty -
Kevin De Bruyne 9: Saw shot well saved as City threatened in opening few minutes, dragged another chance well wide and then saw De Gea fingertip shot from edge of box over. Assisted first two Haaland goals as City swamped United in first half. EPA -
Bernardo Silva 8: His drilled low ball into box was finished by Foden to put City in front and set-up another chance for same player who should have scored again soon after. Helped City destroy United with wave after wave of attacks. Getty -
Phil Foden 9.5: Confident first-time side-footed finish to put City into an eighth-minute lead but then blazed another chance over bar. Grabbed his second just before break after perfect Haaland ball across box. Became second City player to score hat-trick in game with goal in 73rd minute. AFP -
Jack Grealish 8: Up for it from first whistle and his run down the left tempted Dalot into early foul and yellow card. Had goal-bound shot blocked after cutting back on to right foot in first half. Reaction after being taken off in second half suggested he wanted a goal. EPA -
Erling Haaland 10: Three home hat-tricks in a row. Rose highest to head City two up from De Bruyne corner. Scored again three minutes later when he slid home to finish superb pass from Belgian teammate. Calm side-footed finish to complete latest treble. Brilliant ball himself for Foden‘s second and supplied same player’s third. Incredible. PA -
SUBS: Sergio Gomez (On for Walker 41’) 7: Early introduction for Spaniard due to Walker’s injury. Excellent ball into box to set-up Haaland’s third. -
Riyad Mahrez (On for Foden 75’) 6: No chance to make impact. Reuters -
Aymeric Laporte (On for Gundogan 75’) 6: Headed corner wide of target, beaten to ball by Martial for United’s second. Getty Julian Alvarez (On for De Bruyne 75’) 6 Could have made it seven but first touch let him down. Cole Palmer (On for Grealish 75’) 6: Part of quadruple substitution that took steam out of City. -
MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David De Gea 4: Tested from close range after two minutes. And it never stopped in an unrelenting first half where City became the second team this season to put four past United in opening 45 minutes. Getty -
Diogo Dalot 3: Second minute booking for a challenge on Grealish. Opening goal came from his side. Headed a dangerous cross away soon after. EPA -
Lisandro Martinez 5: Struggled to stem the flow of relentless City attacks. Struggled against Haaland and his ability to find space – as well as his other qualities. Best defender, although the bar was low. Getty -
Raphael Varane 4: Tracked Haaland early on but poor for the goal. Went down injured in first half and City played on as he lay on the floor. De Bruyne’s pass went past him for the third in an awful first half. Off after 40 as United melted. AFP -
Tyrell Malacia 2: Booked for a 23rd minute tackle on Foden in challenging start. Flicked ball over Foden in a lovely move. Tried to block Haaland’s header but ball went over line. The ball for City’s fourth went beyond him. Dreadful and brought off at half time. AFP -
Scott McTominay 3: Double block in a second minute City attack. City were happy to let him get forward, not that he managed to hurt them. Teams have to be quick on transitions against City. United were not. Reuters -
Christian Eriksen 4: Nullified by City – who clearly saw him as United’s main threat. He was no threat in this Manchester derby. The whole team were not brave enough in possession. Reuters -
Bruno Fernandes 3: Frustrated – like everyone in red. But one of five attacking players chosen to play away – a gamble which failed badly. His link up with those behind him was non existent and you could say the same for the whole team. EPA -
Jadon Sancho 2: Opening goal started from him losing possession. Bought to make a difference to United – like his former teammate Haaland was for City. Sancho made none here. Getty -
Antony 4: Barely involved as City dominated early on. Stunning goal – the best of the match – with a curling shot from distance. Skewed a shot wide with 20 minutes to go. EPA -
Marcus Rashford 2: Nothing in the first half. Came off before the hour. EPA -
SUBS: Victor Lindelof (On for Varane 40’) 4: The damage had long been done – and the manager was at fault for his tactics as much as any player. Reuters -
Luke Shaw (On for Malacia 46’) 5: Played Foden onside for City’s sixth. Played well for England midweek and he improved United when he came on. AP -
Casemiro (On for McTominay 59’) 5: Might have been better to start him alongside McTominay. United were better with him, but what achievement is playing well when the team are 6-1 down. Needs to get off the bench, in the team and be the world class influence he can be. Getty -
Anthony Martial (On for Rashford 59’) 8: Scored twice, the first a brave header, the second a cool penalty. What more could he have done? The only positive thing about the day was that United scored three times. PA -
Fred (On for Sancho 70’) 6: His shot was saved by Ederson which resulted in United’s second. Showed a spirit that had been lacking. AP
Ronaldo appeared in good spirits during training at Carrington on Wednesday morning and Ten Hag maintains a good relationship with him.
“I never talk about my conversations with the players,” he said. “They are between us. That’s quite clear.
“But when I tell you all the players, when you’re here and you’re happy, or satisfied, when you’re on the bench, this is not a club where you have to be, and especially Cristiano.
“He’s really competitive, as we all know. He’s not happy of course when he’s not playing.
“But I already said and, I have to repeat, he’s training well, he has a good mood, he’s motivated and he gives his best. That is what we expect.”
How United react to their derby humiliation will be an early test of Ten Hag's reign. Erling Haaland and Phil Foden both scored hat-tricks in a hammering that showed the chasm between Ten Hag’s side and back-to-back Premier League champions City.
“Obviously it was a difficult day,” said the Dutch coach, who took over at United during the summer. “As always we analyse and we do that tough, the reality.
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Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo looks happy during the 2-0 Europa League victory against Sheriff Tiraspol at the Zimbru stadium in Chisinau, Moldova, on September 15, 2022. AP -
Lisandro Martinez in action against Sheriff's Abou Ouattara. EPA -
Cristiano Ronaldo reacts. Action Images -
Jadon Sancho scores the opening goal. EPA -
Ronaldo is tackled by Sheriff's defender Gaby Kiki Junior. AFP -
Manchester United's players celebrate the opening goal. AFP -
Ronaldo battles for the ball in Chisinau. AFP -
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring United's second goal with Lisandro Martinez. Action Images -
Ronaldo scores from the penalty spot. AP -
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their second goal with Antony. Action Images
“It was a reality check, so we have to learn from it and carry on. You always take respect of the opponent but we will still stick to our philosophy, our rules, our principles.
“In tactics sometimes, also to surprise opponents, you have to bring something different in your game, and we will do that also for the future.
“But we can get a lot of confidence about this theory, when you beat Arsenal, you beat Liverpool and now we get a reality check with Man City – so we know we have to step up.
“So thank you for the lesson, from Pep and City. We will take that and we have to understand we have to do things much better.”
United are taking a 22-man squad to Cyprus – a trip captain Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Donny Van De Beek will miss.
