The strategy used by Manchester United's players to cross for Cristiano Ronaldo from a distance has been dubbed "stupid" by manager Erik ten Hag.

After Sunday's 3-1 loss at Aston Villa, Ten Hag made the following statement.

Ten Hag denied encouraging his team members to search for Ronaldo's head when asked about it. He said, "I think it was stupid to do that."

We brought in too many crosses from a distance and with too much force, he continued. Then we don’t help him. We have to bring in the crosses at the right moment.

“I think in the second half we also bring the crosses in too quickly." The right moment came from Christian Eriksen in the first half, and he found the moment in his pocket to deliver the ball to Cristiano at the far post. "That was the right moment.”

United face Villa again in the Carabao Cup before playing Fulham next weekend.