Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
As if the new boss doesn’t have enough problems at United to sort out, what does he do with Ron ... stay or go?
IN one hit, in one flash of brutal long-range brilliance, there was the next Manchester United manager’s biggest problem.
In one opportunistic, close-range finish, there was the next Manchester United manager’s biggest problem.
In one, sensational, thunderous, towering, trademark header, there was the next Manchester United manager’s biggest problem.
At the age of 37, Cristiano Ronaldo can still illuminate elite football matches with his excellence, with his genius, with his power, with his athleticism, with his knack for the outrageous.
He can still be a peerless game-winner. He can still do things way beyond even the imagination of the juniors that make up the rest of this squad.
He can still make a stunning difference.
He is still breaking records, he is still setting records that will never be surpassed.
But even if that bit is glorious, Ronaldo can surely be no more than a bit-part player next season. Surely?
And try explaining that to him after he has days as stellar as this one. Try explaining that to him as he chewed the post-game fat – GOAT to GOAT – with Tom Brady.
Whether it be Mauricio Pochettino, Erik ten Hag, Thomas Tuchel or Uncle Tom Cobley, top of the new man’s in-tray will be the Ronaldo situation.
It is a tricky one, but then that is what Ralf Rangnick’s successor will be paid the big bucks for.
And at least whoever is being lined up to take over could have looked at this and – Ronaldo’s majesty apart – taken more positives than have come out of the most recent United performances.
On the balance of play, United could probably count themselves a
little blessed to record the win – Ronaldo’s first two goals, particularly the 25-yard opener, were classy, but were aided by some pretty rotten defending.
And Tottenham simply did not have the composure to create the clear-cut openings their command of possession demanded.
But at least this was a United performance that was enjoyable, that was fun to watch.
Fred, no less, was incorrigible at times, even providing a casual flicked assist for Ronaldo’s first.
And Jadon Sancho continues his belated settling-in period, looking more assured with every game.
But the new manager will still be confronted by issues all over the park, not least in defence.
For a while, it seemed as though Harry Maguire was helping himself to a confidence-booster.
He looked more assured alongside Raphael Varane and went the whole game without being nutmegged.
But then, there was the own goal.
It was not unlucky, it was poor. And it was the help that Spurs needed.
Alex Telles and his hand provided it for the first equaliser – a Harry Kane penalty – and Maguire obligingly tucked away Sergio Reguilon’s cross for the second leveller. Considering United’s foible of fading in the final throes of a match, there looked to be only one winner from that point – even though Spurs were still, unusually, lacking an element of quality in and around the penalty area.
But then, above the whole occasion, rose Ronaldo with a header we have seen so many times, a leap we have witnessed on countless occasions.
It was truly breathtaking. And you know what? He will believe he can do it in the next match, and for the next month, and until the season’s end… and for the whole of next season.
He will believe he can do it until he is 40.
Minimum.
Whoever, this summer, has to tell Ronaldo that, on the balance of things, it is probably not going to be possible, has the most unenviable of jobs.
But that is for another day, that is the broader United picture.
For now, just savour moments like these.
No wonder Ronaldo seemed to be overcome with emotion as he took the acclaim when exiting stage left.
It was a giant of a performance from a giant of the game.