Erik ten Hag could drop Man United untouchable as he responds to Cristiano Ronaldo transfer reports

These are your Manchester United evening headlines for Wednesday, October 5.

A big defeat requires a big response and defeats don't get much bigger than a humiliation at the hands of your local neighbours.

While conceding six to Manchester City is nowhere near as much of a shock or as momentous as it was over a decade ago, Manchester United simply can't take a defeat like that lying down. Only a returning Antony Martial eager to get amongst the goals and a Blues backline that had switched off saved them any face on Sunday, with a 6-3 defeat an extremely flattering scoreline for the visitors.

Erik ten Hag has had to quickly get used to the sour taste of embarrassment as United boss but the last time his side went in at half-time 4-0 down - just a few weeks back and in far more shocking fashion at Brentford - it did have its benefits in the aftermath. The humbling made it clear that more was needed in the transfer window so in came Antony and Casemiro and it also made some things plain to the manager: that he can't play his ideal style of play with what's at his disposal and which players needed to make way.

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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.

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