RONALDO’S THE SAVIOUR AGAIN
Late winner papers over the cracks as United fail to spark against Norwich
ONE arm around the neck of Cristiano Ronaldo and all of Norwich City’s good work was undone. Penalty to Manchester United and, naturally, you-knowwho buried it.
This wasn’t a classic Premier League performance by United.
Nor was it the type boss Ralf Rangnick will have wanted to see against a makeshift Norwich defence who lost their captain to injury and included a defensive midfielder playing at centre back.
Rangnick, wearing a clubbranded cap à la Jurgen Klopp, paced in his technical area for much of this match.
If he possesses a hairdryer, you imagine it made its debut at half time.
Again, though, Ronaldo was the match-winner. The 36-year-old was one of those not performing at his best at a rainy Carrow Road and yet, even on his substandard days when he’s ballooning chances over from six yards, he can still have a defining impact.
Norwich head coach Dean Smith said the penalty was ‘as soft as soft can be’ but then Max Aarons did take hold of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner by the neck and drag him down for his 75thminute penalty. Ronaldo never looked like missing from the moment he started his run-up, despite Tim Krul’s touchline dancing.
From then on it was about seeing out the win, and that’s where David de Gea secured his man-of-the-match award, one save to deny Ozan Kabak particularly pivotal. A poor performance overall from United, but a second successive Premier League win for Rangnick nonetheless.
Unchanged from their 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, Rangnick fielded another 4-2-2-2. Two midfielders in Scott McTominay and Fred, or ‘McFred’ as some supporters have christened them; two playmakers in Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho; two forwards in Ronaldo and Marcus Rashford.
Rashford was disappointing, still not the same since his return from injury. Sancho likewise wasn’t his Borussia Dortmund self, continually playing passes inside rather than charging at opponents like a £73million winger should.
The closest United came inside the opening half hour was when Rashford claimed he was bundled over by Grant Hanley on the edge of the box. Referee Darren England awarded the free-kick, despite it seeming soft.
It was a glorious chance for someone as talented as Fernandes to have a go. Instead, left back Alex Telles took it and a nick off the six-man wall carried his shot on to the crossbar.
Norwich were playing nice football when in possession. They didn’t look like a team anchored at the bottom of the table and were trying to find direct ways to reach Teemu Pukki.
The supporters appreciated that. They were giddy when Ronaldo’s attempt at a volley from 25 yards resulted in an air-kick, but glum when Hanley then dropped down injured.
No longer able to continue, the captain was replaced by Jacob Sorensen, a 23-year-old defensive midfielder who would now have to play at centre back for 70 minutes.
United’s best chance of the first half fell to Ronaldo after 36 minutes but he couldn’t convert. He could have shot with his right foot but instead cut back on to his left and Krul saved.
Krul was needed again when Harry Maguire’s header looked to be looping over him and under the crossbar. He got back in time to tip the ball over and it remained 0-0 at half time.
After 57 minutes, De Gea denied Pukki from finding the top-left corner as Norwich looked the likelier to score.
Rangnick continued to pace and changes were made. In the 67th minute, Sancho was subjected to chants of ‘what a waste of money’ from Norwich fans as Mason Greenwood replaced him.
After 70 minutes, United defender Victor Lindelof needed substituting. Struggling with his breathing, he was swapped for Eric Bailly.
Then, penalty to United and their chance to snatch the points. In his desire to deny Ronaldo from scoring, Aarons pulled on the Portuguese.
Referee England pointed to the penalty spot and VAR was never going to overturn this decision, despite Smith’s protests.
Krul, a masterful saver of penalties, tried his best to distract Ronaldo but could do nothing as the United man sent his shot to the left, and the keeper went the opposite way.
Norwich weren’t going to take defeat lying down. De Gea produced several saves, including a super one to stop Kabak’s header.
Ronaldo could have confirmed the victory but, uncharacteristically, he ballooned the ball over from inside six yards.
Not to worry. United had their win, and they’re two from two under Rangnick who was particularly pleased with another clean sheet.
The United boss said: ‘It was a very intense game, very physical. They played well, they didn’t play like a bottom team.
‘At half time I told the boys we needed to increase the speed and intensity of the game.
‘The second half was a little bit better but at the end we were lucky to have a clean sheet. It’s another clean sheet but still a lot of work to do,’ Rangnick said.