Erik ten Hag did not send on Cristiano Ronaldo as a substitute in last Sunday’s hammering by Manchester City "out of respect" for the five-times Ballon D’Or winner.
Fair enough, but saving an all-time great for Thursday night duty for Manchester United against some honest but hapless minnows from Cyprus must also jar a little.
Ronaldo will almost certainly be back on the bench for their Premier League match at Goodison Park on Sunday. Never mind, though, he will be back to try his luck against plucky Omonia Nicosia on Thursday. Who would ever have had Ronaldo marked down as a Europa League specialist?
