Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes believes Erik ten Hag disrespected Cristiano Ronaldo after handing him a starting berth for Thursday night's Europa League clash against Omonia Nicosia in Cyprus.
The 37-year-old, who netted United's second goal in their 2-0 win over Sheriff Tiraspol last month, was one of three changes to the starting line-up following Sunday's 6-3 defeat to local rivals Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Ronaldo was reinstated to the team alongside Victor Lindelof and summer signing Casemiro.
Ronaldo, despite watching United find themselves 4-0 down by half-time at the Etihad, was not called upon by Ten Hag at the weekend. Ten Hag used all five of his allotted substitutions but chose to overlook the former Juventus star, later admitting that he left him on the bench out of "respect for his career".
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It was a decision that attracted plenty of criticism, even though the chances of Ronaldo being able to single-handedly drag the Reds back into the contest would have been slim. But for former United man Scholes, Ten Hag disrespected the five-time Ballon d'Or winner even further by handing him a start in Cyprus, suggesting that the Europa League is a competition that a player of his ilk could struggle to get motivated for.
"I think it is almost more disrespectful playing him on a Thursday night in the Europa League," Scholes told BT Sport. "This man is a world superstar.
"I am not saying at 37 years of age he should be starting the games, the big games especially, but this is a competition that is hard to get yourself motivated for. I don't like saying that, but it's true when you are a big player at a big club like this.
"He has to change his mentality now, and because he is so strong mentally, it will be to score two goals and get himself in the team for the weekend [at Everton]."
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