Man Utd: Ten Hag should have avoided controversy over £20m star at Old Trafford

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag may have been ‘best off’ not saying anything about Cristiano Ronaldo in the wake of their 6-3 defeat to Manchester City, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

The Dutchman could only watch on as his side were thrashed in the opening Manchester derby of the season but the Red Devils’ most famous face did not make it onto the pitch.

Erling Haaland and Phil Foden both scored hat-tricks as City moved eight points clear of United in the Premier League table.

Summer signing Antony and substitute Anthony Martial did their best to spark an audacious comeback but the damage had already been done.

Another big story emerged from the game after full-time when Ten Hag revealed he left Ronaldo on the bench as a mark of respect for the player’s career.

However, it earned the Dutchman plenty of criticism, with United legend Roy Keane branding the decision ‘disrespectful’.

Ronaldo has largely been used as a substitute this season after he informed the club of his desire to leave during the summer transfer window.

While Ten Hag initially wanted to retain the 37-year-old’s services, he has now changed his stance and is open to his sale.

Sheth believes that Ten Hag may have been better suited not commenting on the matter at all, with Ronaldo always likely to generate headlines.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “Managers are often criticised for not being honest and not being open and yet when they do something like that, people criticise him for that as well. So maybe he was best off not saying anything because the headlines that Cristiano Ronaldo generates are going to be more than any other player. Erik ten Hag was saying, ‘look, out of respect for his career, I didn’t want to bring him on in a game