Ten Hag addresses Ronaldo's Manchester United future and Casemiro transfer

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag refused to be drawn on the expected signing of Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro and could not confirm if Cristiano Ronaldo would stay at the club beyond the closure of the transfer window.

United have struck a €60million deal to sign the 30-year-old Casemiro, who has agreed personal terms with the club.

"No. I cannot tell anything," Ten Hag replied when asked about Casemiro. The Dutchman again bristled at questions about Cristiano Ronaldo.

"I don't know why he's a particular focus after Saturday," he complained. "It was the team performance, the whole team's attitude, including Ronaldo.

"He's in our plans, that's what I can say."

Ronaldo commented on an Instagram post earlier this week to say he would soon reveal "the truth" about his situation.

The 37-year-old's reference to two weeks was attributed as a reference to the window's closure date of September 1.

Ronaldo wants to leave United to join a Champions League club and Ten Hag has been privately open to letting the Portuguese leave for a number of weeks.

However, United co-chairman Joel Glazer wants to keep Ronaldo, who is under contract until next year and has the option of an additional year.

United were thumped 4-0 by Brentford last week and are bottom of the Premier League, with last season's runners-up Liverpool due at Old Trafford on Monday night.

Liverpool drew their opening games against Fulham and Crystal Palace, have Darwin Nunez suspended and a number of injury issues, but United supporters fear the worst after Jurgen Klopp's side hammered United 5-0 and 4-0 last term.

Ten Hag said it had not been difficult to motivate the United players in the wake of the humbling by Brentford. "It starts with yourself: act as a team, follow the rules and principles and work hard, as hard as you can maximise, and if you do that you can get confidence.

"It's not difficult to motivate this team because my experience with them is they work really good on the training pitch."