Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has accused Erik ten Hag of talking "nonsense" by claiming he didn't bring on Cristiano Ronaldo against Manchester City out of respect.
Scholes reckons his plan in fact had the opposite effect with the Portugal international striker looking "angry" on the bench as Man United were thumped 6-3 by bitter rivals City.
Ronaldo has started only one game in the Premier League this season, coming off the bench in his other five appearances for the Red Devils. He's netted just once in the Europa League against FC Sheriff but is yet to do so domestically.
Scholes said of Ten Hag on BT Sport: "I don't think he knows the mentality of a big player, if that's what he's saying, Cristiano would've wanted to start the game but looking at him on the bench, he looked angry.
"When you've got a top quality player, not just top quality he's one of the best that there's ever been, you think you can come on the pitch and have a say in the game. It was 4-0 at the time, so what?
"He wants to be out on the pitch being sat there, look at him, he's not happy.
"Going back to respecting him, not bringing him on the pitch because of his career is absolute nonsense in my eyes that man and anybody else wants to go on that pitch because they know they've struggled, had a bad time, bad half, they want to go on and do something about it.
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"I'm not saying he would've come on and scored four goals but he would want to be on that pitch. It's more disrespectful in my eyes leaving him sitting there watching the game."
Ten Hag insisted his decision to keep Ronaldo away from the action at the Etihad was born out of respect for the 37-year-old and has no bearing on his future ahead of the January transfer window.
"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," Ten Hag said. "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.
"He's not happy that he wasn't playing on Sunday, but that wasn't the question. The question was about his mood when he's around, and whether he's happy. Of course, he wants to play, he's p***** off when he's not playing."
