Here is why Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t come on for Manchester United against Man City

Martial, who was making his first appearance since August 22, replaced Ronaldo in United’s 6-3 loss against City and netted twice.

Erik ten Hag has explained the reason why Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t come on for Manchester United against Manchester City. The Reds’ boss declined to replace Cristiano Ronaldo during the Manchester derby out of “respect for his big career.”

Anthony Martial, who was making his first appearance since August 22, replaced Ronaldo in United’s 6-3 loss against City and netted twice in the Derby. Martial’s brace on Saturday was his first for the Reds in precisely a year, and he will probably start against Everton on Sunday in their next Premier League match. Meanwhile, his brace was not enough in front of Phil Foden and Erling Haaland’s hattricks.

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Ronaldo remained on the bench despite Ten Hag using all five of his available substitutions. “I wouldn’t bring him in because out of respect for Cristiano, for his big career,” Ten Hag said as per manchestereveningnews.co.uk reported. He further said, “And the other thing was the advantage I could bring Anthony Martial, he needs the minutes but I don’t want to point it out like that.”

United lost 6-3 for the first time since the hammering at Southampton in October 1996 and just the sixth time in club history.
Before the humiliation against City, where United was 6-1 down at one point in the second half, Ten Hag had presided over four consecutive Premier League victories.