Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes appears to have backed manager Erik ten Hag’s decision on Cristiano Ronaldo, insisting the team needed big discipline.

He said the Dutchman had brought more stability and discipline to Old Trafford.

Ronaldo is no longer a Manchester United player and is currently a free agent after his contract with the former Premier League champions was terminated shortly before the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The Red Devils won 3-0 against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Tuesday and are now just four points adrift of second-placed Newcastle with a game in hand.

Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, and Fred were the scorers on the night.

And Fernandes could be referring to Ronaldo’s refusal to be subbed on against Tottenham earlier this season and he gave an explosive interview last month to Piers Morgan.

“We find now probably a coach that gave us stability,” he told NBC Sports.

"Also, big discipline." That was something that, for me, was massive on our team that we need…

“But I think in our team we were missing a little bit of that, but now everyone understands that you do whatever you have to do or you are out.”