Former Manchester United forward Garth Crooks has claimed that getting rid of forward Cristiano Ronaldo was key to the club’s transformation under Erik ten Hag this season.

Manchester United climbed up to third position in the Premier League table with a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

Goals from Antony and Diogo Dalot gave Ten Hag’s side the victory at the City Ground.

“Manchester United were one of the few teams that kept a clean sheet this weekend, but what was special about it was that United are ravaged by injuries,” Crooks wrote in his BBC Sport column.

“All credit to Erik ten Hag, who hasn’t just transformed the team but the entire squad since Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure.

“Getting rid of Ronaldo was key to that.”

Ronaldo left Manchester United to join Al Nassr on a free transfer after his contract with the club was terminated by mutual consent.