For someone who was ‘p****d off’ at being left on the bench for Sunday’s Manchester derby, a Europa League start in Nicosia on Thursday will only go so far towards placating Cristiano Ronaldo.

This is the competition he feels is beneath him. Champions League lite. An opportunity on any given Thursday for Manchester United to use fringe players, which these days includes Ronaldo himself.

Manager Erik ten Hag’s decision not to send on the Portugal star when United were hit for six by Manchester City has sparked fresh speculation over Ronaldo’s future at Old Trafford.

Erik ten Hag admitted Cristiano Ronaldo was frustrated to be on the bench versus Manchester City

In truth, very little has changed. A player who wanted to leave in the summer still wants to leave after starting just three of the club’s nine games this season. United would have listened to offers then and will do so again in January if one is forthcoming.

Trouble is, the only firm bid has come from Saudi Arabia and that was never a realistic option for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

Interest is no longer guaranteed in a player who looks off the pace this season, scoring just once — a penalty against Sheriff Tiraspol — to move on to 699 club goals in an incredible career. At 37, Ronaldo can only defy nature for so long.

Ten Hag continues to perform a delicate balancing act with a man who desperately wants to play but is some way past his best. The Dutchman yesterday reiterated that he didn’t expose Ronaldo to United’s derby battering out of respect.

The player wasn’t happy, but Ten Hag pointed out the difference between that and Ronaldo being unhappy in general. ‘Especially Cristiano, he’s really competitive,’ he said. ‘Of course, he wants to play. He’s p****d off when he’s not playing. That’s clear.

‘He’s not happy he wasn’t playing on Sunday, but that wasn’t the question. The question was about how he is on the training pitch, his mood when he’s around, and he’s happy. He is training well. I don’t see he is unhappy.

‘When we were 4-0 down, 5-1 down, 6-1 down, I didn’t bring him on out of respect. So nothing to do with what’s happening for the future, for January or next year.’

Ten Hag actually thanked Pep Guardiola and his City players for teaching United a lesson, which he feels will be important in his team’s development.

‘I know when you’re in a process you will have setbacks,’ he added. ‘We beat Arsenal and Liverpool, now we get a reality check with Man City. We know we have to step up. So thank you for the lesson, Pep and City, we will take that.’

United bounced back from a humbling defeat at Brentford in August by beating Liverpool, and the players have discussed using that performance as a template to recover again. Ten Hag made them watch a re-run of the 6-3 thrashing at Carrington on Monday.

‘We had a meeting and went to see the tough things, the mistakes,’ said Bruno Fernandes, who was heard shouting in the dressing room at the Etihad at half-time. ‘Now, more than talk about the mistakes, don’t repeat them. It’s time to get back to good results.’

United face an Omonia Nicosia team on Thursday managed by Neil Lennon, who led his side into the Europa League by lifting the Cypriot Cup in May.

Lennon was a member of the Celtic team who caused a famous Champions League upset against United and a 21-year-old Ronaldo at Parkhead in November 2006.

‘I don’t know if it shows how old Cristiano is or how old I am,’ said Lennon, 51. ‘The fact he’s going to be in the stadium and I get to see him live and close up again is fantastic. He is very, very special.

‘I understand why he hasn’t been playing, but he (Ten Hag) can’t keep him out for long. Over the course of the season, United will need Cristiano Ronaldo.’