Erik ten Hag has praised Cristiano Ronaldo's work rate when Manchester United are not in possession of the ball.
Ronaldo, 37, has made just three Premier League starts this season and Ten Hag has preferred to play Marcus Rashford down the middle. Ten Hag has considered Rashford as the more 'dynamic' option and that has limited Ronaldo's involvement.
However, after Ronaldo was reintegrated into first-team squad following his refusal to be substituted against Tottenham, he's started in all three of the Reds' matches across all competitions and United have kept a clean sheet in each of those wins.
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Ten Hag was asked about that impressive defensive record ahead of this weekend's match against Aston Villa and he took the opportunity to praise Ronaldo, who he claimed helps the team defend from the highest point of the attack.
Ronaldo's work rate off the ball has been criticised this season and Ten Hag's comments could be significant.
“Because we defend with 11, starting with Cristiano [Ronaldo] up front," Ten Hag told United's in-house media.
"So we are hard to beat as a team. I think that’s a compliment but it’s also that process we have to keep going, that makes it hard to beat us because everyone is convinced of that plan, everyone is disciplined in that plan.
"When we play with the desire and passion, we are hard to beat and that makes us, in this moment, successful.”
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