JADON’S A KNOCKOUT

MICHAEL CARRICK could be forgiven for thinking this management lark is easy.

One game in and he has already guided Manchester United to a victory which secures their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Carrick also masterminded only a third clean sheet of the campaign to suggest that in the home of bathroom makers Porcelanosa United’s season is not going down the toilet.

Yet the caretaker boss is savvy enough to know there is room for improvement and his team had to rely on Cristiano Ronaldo yet again to mug Villarreal.

This time he did not leave it until deep into injury time to score the winner against Unai Emery’s side, landing the killer blow with 12 minutes remaining.

The Reds capitalised on a suicidal pass out by Villarreal goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli and Ronaldo took full advantage to continue his run of scoring in every group game.

In the final minute Jadon Sancho smashed home his first goal since his £73million summer signing to round off a very positive night for the visitors.

David De Gea provided the platform for only a third win in United’s last nine games, pulling off a number of fines saves when Villarreal were on top.

In front of him, a back four which had been shambolic in recent weeks, was organised and stood firm.

A rare negative was Donny Van de Beek fluffing his lines on his big chance.

The Dutchman started in place of Bruno Fernandes, who was deservedly dropped for the first time in his Old Trafford career. Anthony Martial was preferred to Marcus Rashford up top, Carrick making four changes from the debacle at Watford which finally cost Ole Gunnar Solskjaer his job.

Travelling fans sang Solskjaer’s name after a kick-off which had been delayed for a few minutes because of a problem with referee Felix Brych’s earpiece. Carrick (right)

has been charged with picking up the pieces and his bold team selection did not immediately translate into a significant improvement.

The Europa League holders played most of the football for the first three-quarters of the game.

Thankfully for United, De Gea was in defiant mood and saved from Moi Gomez before Yeremi Pino beat Alex Telles to fire into the side netting.

Pino beat Telles again and pulled the ball back for Manu Trigueros to unleash a left-foot shot, which De Gea saved with his right hand. United mustered little initially, Scott Mctominay heading into the side netting early on and a Ronaldo header being easily saved by Rulli.

De Gea made his best stop when he touched away Trigueros’ shot before Arnaut Danjuma wastefully blazed over from a great position.

The Reds weathered the storm and should have gone ahead when Sancho was played through, but his shot was saved by Rulli.

They sensed an opportunity and when Fred quickly closed down Etienne Capoue following Rulli’s awful pass out to him, the ball reached Ronaldo and he coolly lobbed the Villarreal keeper.

The goal knocked the stuffing out of Villarreal and United scored a fine second from a sweeping move which culminated in Rashford and Fernandes combining to tee up Sancho and he thumped home a rightfoot shot off the underside of the bar.