United boss is saved from the boot by seasoned class
SAVING Ole Gunnar Solskjaer from the sack before the clocks go back wasn’t in Cristiano Ronaldo’s brief when he was welcomed back to Manchester.
In fact, there is even a theory that allowing hearts to rule heads by making sure the Portuguese superstar didn’t fall into the hands of Pep Guardiola has been part of Solskjaer’s problem.
But with the United boss needing his very own Mark Robins moment, it was the man from Madeira who provided it.
Ronaldo’s fierce far-post volley six minutes before half-time was routine by his own standards – but it was still brilliant enough to be part of any Goal of the Month competition.
Bruno Fernandes’ clipped pass was a bit special as well, spotting Ronaldo smuggling himself in behind Ben Davies, the midfielder served up a delicious delivery that his fellow countryman gobbled up.
And just to show he is every inch a team player these days, Ronaldo turned provider in the 64th minute for Edinson Cavani to show United’s 30-somethings are definitely alright.
Marcus Rashford sealed the deal four minutes from time after replacing Ronaldo, beating Hugo Lloris with an assured low finish after being set free by Nemanja Matic. Now, after spending the last week as a dead man walking, Solskjaer’s side can pull level with Guardiola’s champions if his team wins Saturday’s Manchester derby.
There is no doubt that the brilliance of stars like Ronaldo, Cavani and Fernandes is papering over cracks that are preventing United from becoming genuine contenders. But you can be sure Tottenham’s fans wouldn’t mind a bit of it.
The home supporters who lined up outside their billion-pound stadium to chant, ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning’ as United’s squad disembarked from their team bus must have felt a bit foolish at the end.
Maybe their taunts were for Nuno Espirito Santo. Or, more likely, Daniel Levy.
Spurs were jeered off at half-time. Nuno’s decision to bring off Lucas Moura was met with chants that the Portuguese doesn’t know what he’s doing.
It’s one step forward, two paces back for Tottenham at the moment. But Levy found it tough enough to find a manager in the summer, so Nuno is another boss who might benefit from his chairman’s lack of a Plan B.
Solskjaer knew he had to respond to his Liverpool humiliation – and so did his players.
The United boss started Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane in central defence.
So with Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw employed as wing-backs and Fred and Scott McTominay providing a midfield shield, it meant United had seven men protecting David de Gea rather than the none-at-the-back policy that allowed Mo Salah and Co to run riot.
It meant Rashford, Mason Greenwood and £80million Jadon Sancho were on the bench.
But the system enabled Fernandes the freedom to play just behind Ronaldo and Cavani – and in the end it was that seasoned class that won the game.
United came with fight, their tenacity was illustrated perfectly when Wan-Bissaka hunted down Heung-Min Son to produce a recovery tackle.
Then Ronaldo scored his seventh goal of the season and United were on their way.
When he was replaced by Rashford there were no histrionics. Just a nod and a wink for his manager.