Erik ten Hag insists Cristiano Ronaldo's mood remains upbeat despite his absence from the Manchester United side in the derby at the Etihad on Sunday.
Ronaldo was dropped from the starting XI to face Manchester City for the fit again Marcus Rashford and then wasn't called on off the bench, with Ten Hag preferring Anthony Martial, who scored two late goals.
Ten Hag said he didn't use Ronaldo out of 'respect for his great career', with City leading 4-0 at half-time and extending their lead to 5-1 and 6-1 before United's late rally. READ MORE: United issue injury update on Varane, Maguire and Van de Beek Ronaldo might find himself behind Rashford and Martial in the pecking order up front for Ten Hag, but the Dutchman insists the 37-year-old remains committed and enthusiastic around Carrington, despite reports he could look to leave in January. "I can’t see that relation, that he’s not coming when we’re 4-0, 5-1, 6-1 down, I don’t bring him on out of respect, it’s nothing to do with what’s happening for the future or January or next year," said Ten Hag. "I don’t see he’s unhappy, he's happy, he’s training well, he’s enjoying it.
Everyone is training well, there’s a good spirit." Ten Hag refuted suggestions Ronaldo was happy despite his absence from the team, with the forward starting just once so far in the Premier League this season. "He’s not happy that he wasn't playing Sunday, don’t get me wrong," he said. "The question was about his mood on the training pitch and when he’s around and he’s happy.