Five things learned as Ten Hag’s men prove they don’t need Ronaldo

Bruno back on song

Named as man of the match, this was a captain’s performance from the Portuguese star who flourished in Ronaldo’s absence. He chased every ball, hit shots from range and tried to create them for his team-mates.

It is well-documented that fernandes has struggled for form over the past 12 months. But perhaps that is only because he has set impossibly high standards in his opening months at Old Trafford.

Ronaldo’s arrival took the gloss off his status last season but with the veteran star benched, he was allowed the freedom to charge of this game and produced the goods with a fine strike. Ten Hag will be delighted with his contribution after deservedly keeping Christian Eriksen out of the team.

Ronaldo surplus to requirements

It must have killed a player who has scored 700 league goals to watch his side struggle to find a way past goalkeeper Lloris in the first half. But what might have hurt Cristiano Ronaldo more was the fact that United didn’t look like they needed him to save their skin.

The 37-year-old was sat in the dugout once again after being benched by Ten Hag. For all of the talk of how important he is at Old Trafford, actions speak louder than words – and Ronaldo’s body language said it all as he looked sulky on towards the game from the sidelines.

The striker made no secret of his desire to leave in the summer and his failure to secure an exit away looks even worse for him now. It’s not that he is too good for United, but rather, the question must be asked if he is good enought to warrant a place in this team.

Either way, storming down the tunnel before your team completes a morale-boosting victory said everything about his thoughts at the moment. And that will prove to be a slight dampener for Ten Hag, who now has an issue to deal with to stop Ronaldo’s childish act from affecting his squad’s happiness.