Erik ten Hag trumpeted "leader" Cristiano Ronaldo's goalscoring record in Spain as he prepares to face Real Sociedad in Manchester United's Europa League group decider.
Ronaldo pilfered 450 goals in 438 games for Real Madrid during his nine years in the Spanish capital, including 15 goals in nine appearances against Sociedad.
The 37-year-old is expected to line up for the third game running in San Sebastian on Thursday night as Jadon Sancho, Antony and Anthony Martial are all unavailable.
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Ten Hag has successfully reintegrated Ronaldo back into the squad after he refused to come on against Tottenham two weeks ago and the United manager is optimistic the Portuguese will pose a threat on familiar territory.
"First of all, if you talk about his feelings you have to ask him, not me," Ten Hag replied to a Spanish reporter. "He is really professional, he's in a group, he’s a leader type, he's a really important part of this group and in Spain he's a real threat to every defence, every gap he will use.
"Jadon Sancho was ill, Anthony Martial still is in recovery rehab, he has to finish that. He did train this morning, so we go in the right direction."
Ronaldo has scored twice in the Europa League this season - home and away against FC Sheriff - but has only tallied three goals overall this term when he had three times as many this time last year.
Ten Hag was concise on United's objective of needing to win by two goals to finish top of Group E and avoid a February knockout tie with a team relegated from the Champions League. "Clear, obviously it's important we can win that tomorrow night. We know what we have to do, two-goals difference.
"But if you want to win a trophy you have to win all the games and we have to beat everyone. It's how far you come here, you don't speak in autumn about how far you come, you can't win anything in this moment of the season.
"It's like Casemiro tells: it's game-by-game."
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