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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Dan Brown

Man United boss Erik ten Hag explains Cristiano Ronaldo call against Man City as Roy Keane slams decision

Here are your Manchester United morning headlines for Monday, October 3.

Ten Hag explains why Ronaldo did not come on against Man City

Erik ten Hag refused to bring on Cristiano Ronaldo in the Manchester derby out of "respect for his big career".

Ronaldo was an unused substitute in United's 6-3 thumping at City as Anthony Martial came on ahead of him for his first appearance since August 22 and scored twice.

ALSO READ: Bruno Fernandes explains what went wrong for Man United vs Man City

Martial's goals were his first for United in exactly a year and he is likely to start at Everton in their next Premier League fixture on Sunday. Ten Hag used all five substitutions available to him but Ronaldo stayed on the bench.

"I wouldn't bring him in because out of respect for Cristiano, for his big career," Ten Hag said. "And the other thing was the advantage I could bring Anthony Martial, he needs the minutes but I don't want to point it out like that."

Find out what else Ten Hag had to say about Ronaldo here.

Keane slams Ten Hag for showing 'disrespect' towards Ronaldo

Roy Keane has blasted Erik ten Hag's decision to not bring on Cristiano Ronaldo during Manchester United's horror defeat to rivals City.

United were easily brushed aside 6-3 at the Etihad but Ten Hag raised eyebrows by electing not to summon Portuguese superstar Ronaldo from the substitutes' bench. The 37-year-old has started just one Premier League game this season and his only club goal came in the Europa League, from the penalty spot.

Last summer saw Ronaldo let it be known that he wished to move on but a move away never materialised. Now, his ex-United teammate-turned-pundit Keane believes Ten Hag is showing disrespect to the veteran forward. Keane says United should have allowed him to depart if they were not going to give him sufficient game time this term.

Keane said: "I think United are just showing disrespect to Ronaldo, he should’ve been let go before the end of the transfer window."

Click here to find out what else Keane said about Ten Hag's decision.

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