Manchester United Treble winner Jaap Stam has praised manager Erik ten Hag for his handling of Cristiano Ronaldo's strop.

Ronaldo refused to come off the bench against Tottenham on Wednesday, and left Old Trafford before full time in Manchester United's 2-0 win.

Ten Hag reacted by banishing the striker to train on his own.

Stam told Football Daily: "I think it's a normal reaction that ten Hag's made, and Ronaldo knows that as well because a player of his experience, the quality he has, what he's done."

When asked how former manager Sir Alex Ferguson would have dealt with the incident, the former centre back replied: "Talk about the hairdryer, it would have been a big hairdryer that one."

The Dutchman also expressed some sympathy for Ronaldo, as he explained: "He's not happy that he's not playing. Of course he's not. It wouldn't be a good thing if he was happy sitting on the bench.

"It's not fair to him to be remembered for this situation. He's been world class, I still think he is world class, and you don't want to go into the history books walking off the pitch because you're not happy not playing.

"He'll probably go in now and make his apologies, but it will still be in people's minds, he has done something that is not good."