Carrick-led United grab Champions League win

MICHAEL Carrick believes Manchester United’s players showed their character as they delivered a 2-0 win over Villarreal in the first game since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking.

Carrick, given only 48 hours to prepare for this match after Solskjaer’s dismissal on Sunday morning, had suggested he would not make major changes, but there was a significant statement as Donny van de Beek started ahead of Fernandes.

Villarreal had the better chances for an hour, De Gea making two strong saves to deny Manu Trigueros, but after Carrick’s substitutions United bossed the final 20 minutes and Ronaldo delivered again with his sixth goal in five Champions League games to set them on their way before Sancho cracked a late strike off the underside of the bar.

■ TREVOH Chalobah, Reece James, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Timo Werner struck to sink Juventus 4-0 and march an imperious Chelsea into the Champions League’s last 16.

The defending champions battered the outclassed Italians to book their place in the knockout stages and also overhauling their Serie A rivals at the top of Group H.

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel felt his side were good value for another impressive win which secures their place in the last 16.

The German coach said: “It was a very good performance. We wanted to stay patient, but also did not want to fall asleep so it was a challenge to have both things.

“The team did really well. It is so tough to score goals against Juventus and we created so much, so full credit for an amazing performance and a fantastic result.”