Cristiano Ronaldo: Manchester United

Keane: The great players and the top players want to play week in, week out. Ronaldo did not come back to Manchester United to sit on the bench in a derby game.

Richards: ‘I’m going to play high intensity players, and it didn’t work, I agree with you. Ronaldo did not come back to Manchester United to sit on the bench in a derby game. That’s their fault, not Ronaldo’s. I don’t think he was doing too much pressing then. He was the league’s leading scorer for Manchester United [last season]. Richards: You come to the Etihad, you know Manchester City are going to have the majority of the ball –

Cristiano Ronaldo was an unused substitute as Man United lost 6-3 to Man City in the derby on Sunday.

Ten Hag has got a lot of things right since his summer arrival at Old Trafford, but his decision to leave Ronaldo on the bench was certainly a statement. [Martial](https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/all-about/anthony-martial), to his credit, made a positive impact on his return from injury. With reports suggesting that the 37-year-old is set for a move away in January, his last few months at Old Trafford appear to be heading in one direction, and one direction only. On the other hand, Ronaldo, who was the club's top goalscorer last term, barely featured in pre-season, and his season has certainly not taken off. His relationship with the club has certainly soured over the past couple of months, but he and many others would still have expected him to feature against City. And still, with the United boss making the decision to leave the Portuguese on the bench, it felt like a significant moment. With Martial having only made one competitive appearance this season prior to the derby, the decision to bring him on over It could be presumed that the ex-Ajax boss, who has utilised Ronaldo as an impact substitute this term, would have at least introduced him against City, especially given the scoreline. Pep Guardiola's men were scintillating throughout and the Reds struggled to lay a glove on them. He was, understandably given the circumstances, furious that Erik ten Hag had made all of his permitted substitutes and still opted to leave him on the bench. The 188th Manchester derby was, in all honesty, bonkers. Ronaldo has started just three matches all season, so it was no surprise that he wasn't named in the starting line-up against City, but with the Reds desperate for a goal, his services still weren't required.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag admitted he left Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench during the 6-3 mauling at Manchester City “out of respect".

"It's always difficult to find out why that is, especially straight after the game. Okay, you say you need options, but you don’t hold on to Ronaldo to sit on the bench. Today, we weren't convincing. He needs the minutes but I don't want to point it out like that." "It was four weeks ago, but I had seen a different team with a different spirit and a different vibe. Premier League

I wouldn't bring him in because we are 4-1 down. Out of respect for Cristiano, for his big career,” said the Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag after ...

“I want him to touch the ball more and more. “The plan was to show bravery and confidence, but we didn’t from the first minute,” Ten Hag said. We didn’t follow the rules and principles of the way we play and you get hammered." “So he became a football player to score goals. “But what he has done, I didn’t teach him once. “I wouldn’t bring him in because we are 4-1 down,” said the United manager.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag left Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench in the side's 6-3 loss to Manchester City out of "respect" for the striker.

"What I like in the last period of the game is that he is involved. "The quality we have alongside him helps him to score goals," Guardiola said. "But what he has done, I didn't teach him once. He needs the minutes, but I don't want to point it out like that." It had to do with the belief as individuals and as a team. "When you don't believe on the pitch, then you can't win games; that is unacceptable.

Legendary Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane has slammed his former club for disrespecting Cristiano Ronaldo by continually leaving him on the bench.

While speaking at his post-match press conference, Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag explained his decision to leave star forward Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench by stating, "I didn't bring him on out of respect for his big career. Manchester United coach Erik ten Hag did not bring Cristiano Ronaldo on the pitch despite his side losing 4-0 at half-time against arch-rivals Manchester City. Okay, you say you need options, but you don’t hold on to Ronaldo to sit on the bench.