Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag explained the reason why he left Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench for his side’s first Premier League game of the season against Brighton.

Ronaldo is not a starter for United’s first match of the season in the league.

The Portuguese super star who only returned to training last week will watch from the bench against the Seagulls this afternoon.

After naming him in the starting line-up against Rayo Vallecano, Erik ten Hag was asked why dropped Ronaldo this afternoon.

Read more : Man United vs Brighton line-ups as Ronaldo starts on the bench

And he replied : “He only returned to training last week, he only has 45 minutes in his legs”, Ten Hag said.

“He is not on the physical level of the other players and in the Premier League, we saw him this weekend, he has to be 100%.

“Ronaldo is working very hard to get back to good physical condition, it will take time. He started last week.

“It will depend on his progress”, he added.