REVEALED: Real reason Cristiano Ronaldo was dropped against Tottenham

Manchester United had on Wednesday night played host to Antonio Conte and his men at Old Trafford in their EPL encounter with Cristiano Ronaldo unnamed in the starting line-up despite scoring a hat-trick in this fixture last season

Surprisingly, Marcus Rashford taking Ronaldo’s place up front in the only change from United’s side that played out a goalless draw against Newcastle last was charged with leading the attack.

There was no doubt that it was a big game for United as they squared up against another top team in Tottenham who have demonstrated serious ambitions about winning the Premier League title.

Ronaldo’s omission from the starting line may have left many other than the Portuguese in shock considering that the 37-year-old’s goal record against Spurs having scored 14 goals against Conte’s men in 20 games.

Meanwhile, United’s boss Erik ten Hag has taken time to explain and justify his decision for the selection:

‘We are building for the future, but the future is tonight,’ the United boss told Amazon.

‘You pick the line-up that you think has the most chance to win, and you have a game plan. Cristiano [Ronaldo] is an important player and he can make the goal, he will come on and can make the difference.

‘I have to deal with all the players expectations, and I have to deal with developing this team. You have to make a game plan.

‘This is a good Tottenham team, a compact, a transition team with high intensity and I think this is the best way to start like this. You get more runs behind, more dynamic up front.

Expectedly, Ten Hag’s decision to deny Ronaldo a piece of action throughout the encounter was not appreciated by the forward as the Portuguese was captured leaving the stadium before full-time.

But United’s boss was however vindicated on the night after the Red Devils played one of their best games so far this season to hand Spurs their second EPL defeat so far as goals from Fred and Fernandez were enough to give the Old Trafford side a deserved victory.