Jaap Stam has praised Erik ten Hag's stern treatment of Cristiano Ronaldo, and felt that his old manager Sir Alex Ferguson would have dished out his famous 'hairdryer' treatment after the 37-year-old's recent behavior.
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 with the U21s, the latest in a series of apparent fallings out between the manager and his star striker.
Stam, who won three Premier Leagues and a Champions League with Manchester United, felt ten Hag had dealt with the situation well.
He 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 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.
United are next in action against Chelsea a Saturday, a key game that could see them move into the Champions League places. It remains to be seen what part Ronaldo will play.