Fred and Scott McTominay branded Cristiano Ronaldo's worst team-mates as Man United woes continue

Cristiano Ronaldo has been defended amid criticism over his recent performances, with his Manchester United team-mates slammed for their part in the club’s dismal season.

Ronaldo has received some flack this season following his return to Old Trafford, with some suggesting the Portuguese superstar doesn’t fit into the system United are trying to play under Ralf Rangnick.

And, despite being the club’s top scorer this season, the 37-year-old finds himself in his worst drought of the campaign, having now gone five games without a goal.

Tuesday night saw Ronaldo dropped to the bench by Rangnick against Burnley, with the former Real Madrid man unable to put the visitors back in front as they suffered a big blow in their top four hopes with a 1-1 draw.

Ronaldo has received some criticism after running straight off the pitch at the full-time whistle at Turf Moor, having also been guilty of not acknowledging the travelling support in previous games this season.

But former Wales international Dean Saunders has some sympathy for Ronaldo, and hasn’t held back in his criticism of some of his team-mates at United.

“At one point they should've been 3-0 up, they were running away with it. Then the minute they get a bit of adversity they seem to go backwards and crumble,” Saunders told talkSPORT.

“If you asked Ronaldo, 'Who's the worst midfield players you've ever played with in your career?' Fred and [Scott] McTominay won't be far off.

“People are starting to point the finger at Ronaldo, but he's playing with a few dummies, some of them are not on the same wavelength as him.

“Every time the ball was shifted around the box and they were piling the pressure on Burnley the ball was going to a really good player, to Pogba, to Rashford,