RONALDO TO PLAY IN CUP HE HATES!

The very competition that convinced Cristiano Ronaldo he had to leave Manchester United is now the one offering the Portugal star the best chance of a start under new manager erik ten hag. The ignominy of playing europa League football was the primary reason given by Ronaldo for wanting to cut short his second stint at Old Trafford after just 12 months. Not since he was a teenager launching his career at Sporting Lisbon has Ronaldo had to lower himself to playing on Thursday nights — a first-round tie against Partizan Belgrade in the old

UeFA Cup 20 years ago.

Ten hag has cited Ronaldo’s lack of pre-season training for putting him on the bench for five of United’s opening six Premier League games. But with the United boss considering making changes for tonight’s europa League opener against Real Sociedad Ronaldo may get the start he wants in the competition he likes least.

Asked if Ronaldo can still be a starter, Ten hag said: ‘Of course — he started against Brentford. Then not since, but he is ready to start. We not only have a team, we have a squad. For players not in the team, they can at any moment come in, do the job and maybe do better than the ones who are in.’

With Anthony Martial still not fit, Ten hag must decide whether to recall Ronaldo and rest Marcus Rashford, who has scored three goals in four games in a central role. Real Sociedad are expected to be United’s strongest challengers in the group, but were beaten 4-0 on aggregate when the two clubs met in the knockout stage of this competition two seasons ago.

Kick-off: 8pm, Old Trafford. TV: LIVE BT Sport 1.