Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has dismissed recent criticism of Cristiano Ronaldo, saying the outside noise around the club doesn't bother him.

Speaking to former United team-mate Rio Ferdinand on a podcast, Ronaldo said Ten Hag was wrong when he said in a pre-season interview that the club were "very far" from winning the Premier League.

Although Ronaldo went on to say that he also thought his old club could not win the championship, he felt coach Ten Hag was sending the wrong message.

When asked about the comments of the veteran striker Ten Hag, he said that Ronaldo had said the same thing, according to KosovaPress.

"No, he said that, if you read the article very well," Ten Hag said. He is entitled to his opinion. It's okay. He's far away in Saudi, far away from Manchester."

After back-to-back defeats to Brighton and Liverpool, United head to Southampton knowing defeat will condemn them to their worst start since 1986-87, when Ron Atkinson was sacked and replaced by Sir Alex Ferguson .