Marcus Rashford starts as Cristiano Ronaldo on bench for Manchester United Premier League opener vs Brighton
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Published 07/08/2022 at 12:32 GMT
Cristiano Ronaldo has spent much of the summer trying to move away from Manchester United and has trained apart from the team for the bulk of pre-season. He is included in the matchday squad against Brighton but will begin on the bench as Erik ten Hag picked Marcus Rashford to start the Red Devils' Premier League opener. Ten Hag said Ronaldo's fitness "would take time".
'Concerning is maybe not the right word' - Ten Hag on Ronaldo absence
Cristiano Ronaldo is on the bench for Manchester United’s Premier League opener against Brighton.
The 37-year-old Portugal international missed the vast majority of his side’s pre-season as he pursued a move away from Old Trafford which, for the moment, has not materialised
United had been expected to start with a resurgent Anthony Martial in attack, but a recent hamstring injury ruled the Frenchman out of action.
Erik ten Hag has instead plumped for England forward Marcus Rashford to lead the line, having mainly been used on the left wing in recent seasons.
Ten Hag explained his decision before the match, saying: "Ronaldo is working really hard to get in the right fitness levels, it will take time. He started pre-season last week. It depends on how quick he is progressing.
"We should act as a team, I want to see a team performance. Every game, that is the most important. Football is a team sport."
Behind Rashford is a trio of Bruno Fernandes, Christian Eriksen and Jadon Sancho.
New signing Lisandro Martinez lines up alongside Harry Maguire in a back four.
Tyrell Malacia is also on the bench, so too are Raphael Varane and Donny van de Beek.
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