JAMIE CARRAGHER has defended Erik ten Hag for benching Cristiano Ronaldo against Manchester City.
The 37-year-old superstar didn't play a minute of action as Manchester United were thrashed 6-3 by their local rivals.
And Ten Hag has come in for a lot of criticism since.
Red Devil icon Roy Keane slammed the decision, claiming it shows "disrespect" to "a player of his stature".
And fellow Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness believes Ten Hag can't afford to wait for Rashford to become the player he hopes he will be.
However, ex-Liverpool defender Carragher did not agree with his colleagues.
READ MORE ON MAN UTD
Ten Hag’s Cristiano Ronaldo comments cause stir, £35m Goncalo Ramos chase
Win incredible Rolex or £16k alternative from just 89p with special discount code
The former Liverpool and England defender reckons the idea that Ten Hag his team selection wrong by not playing Ron was "laughable".
Writing on Twitter, he wrote: "The idea that Erik ten Hag got it wrong yesterday by not playing Ronaldo is laughable!
"Ronaldo played at Brentford when it was 4-0 at half-time.
"It’s not a dig at Cristiano Ronaldo, but Rashford’s pace on the counter attack as we saw vs Arsenal and Liverpool was the best option."
Most read in Sport
Hamilton could be awarded LAST year’s F1 title with Verstappen in cheat storm
Jack Grealish celebrates with a Chinese takeaway after ‘great day at the office’
Man Utd fans tear into Gary Neville after he tipped win before City triumph
Ten Hag reveals incredible reason he left Ronaldo on bench in City thrashing
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
After the game, 52-year-old Ten Hag blasted his players for their derby hammering, labelling it "unacceptable”.
Ronaldo started the match as a sub for the fifth league match in a row.
And even in the closing stages he was one of just four substitutes his gaffer chose not to use.
The furious Dutchman admitted the team were so bad he spared Ronaldo the humiliation of going on as a sub.
The boss said: "I wouldn’t bring him in because out of respect for Cristiano — for his big career.
“And the other thing was the advantage I could bring Martial, he needs the minutes.
"But I don’t want to point it out like that."
Source: Read Full Article
