Ex-Man United coach Mike Phelan denies there was pressure for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to play Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese attacker is struggling to adapt to new manager Erik ten Hag's philosophy at United.
Despite being the team's top scorer last term, Ronaldo has been in and out of the side this term.
Asked if Ronaldo was a “must select" player, Phelan told Astro SuperSport: “No. No, not really, not to the point that it [the suggestion] was made.
“When I talk about the noise and the outside influences, then yes. There is a lot of talk about [him]. If Cristiano plays and he scores, Manchester United win. If he doesn't play and we lose, then Cristiano should have played. That will always be there and you can't avoid that.
“But, from our point of view, every manager and every coach talks only about winning the game of football. And how you are going to do that. That is the hardest thing. So you pick the best team and the best players to help you try to do that."
