Erik ten Hag cut an increasingly frustrated figure throughout his pre-match press conference for Manchester United's trip to Omonia Nicosia.
Some of his predecessors would have been happy for the attention to be diverted away from the mauling they suffered at the hands of Man City last weekend. But Ten Hag appeared in no mood for distraction tactics, despite Cristiano Ronaldo's situation providing the perfect opportunity to implement them.
The discourse following the 6-3 defeat at the Etihad Stadium - rather than focus around the team’s collective failings - was mainly centred around the non-inclusion of Ronaldo. Even during the second half, Sky Sports cameras appeared to find themselves fixed on the 37-year-old substitute as much as it did on City’s domination.
Ten Hag’s decision to not bring Ronaldo on at all during the derby looked from the outside a damning indictment of where the United boss saw the forward within his squad. He subsequently claimed it would have been disrespectful to bring him on during the lost cause, a response which carried little weight with those still backing the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
And three days later the furore had barely tempered, with the Dutchman asked about Ronaldo on several occasions throughout his media duties on Wednesday morning.
Asked if his not bringing him on was a sign he could be leaving, he said: "I can't see that relation, that he's not coming on when we are 4-0 down, 5-1 down, 6-1 down and I don't bring him on out of respect. It's nothing to do what's happening for the future, what's happening for January or next year."
Pressed on his mood around the camp, Ten Hag added: "I don't see he is unhappy. He's happy, he is training well. He's enjoying it and I think everyone is training well. It is a good spirit and vibe in the training so that's not the point but it's important because it is a base to work well."
The United boss was - and is - saying all the right things when it comes to Ronaldo and his presence within the squad. Ever since his arrival as manager, even when the veteran was pushing for a move Ten Hag has insisted he is part of the plan.
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Sky Sports)He was then asked if leaving him on the bench out of fear of disrespecting him showed he was giving the former Real Madrid star special treatment: "I think, for me, it is quite obvious. For you, maybe not, but I think also you understand why this is."
It was then that the facade around Ronaldo’s lack of participation appeared to slip: “For me, it is, and let me make myself clear: It's always about you live by the day and you line up the strongest team you have, don't get me wrong.”
For all of the talk of respect and smiley faces at Carrington the underlying truth remains: Ten Hag believes Manchester United are a stronger team WITHOUT Cristiano Ronaldo in it. It’s a point which will continue to be debated on terraces, in pubs and in TV studios for much of the season. But as far as for the man that has the ultimate decision, his stance is clear.
