Rangnick: He can keep flying home if he plays like that

RALF RANGNICK saw Cristiano Ronaldo score a stunning hat-trick as Manchester United sank Tottenham at Old Trafford, and then said: ‘Maybe he should go to Portugal every week!’

Ronaldo caused a stir last weekend by flying home when he was ruled out of the Manchester derby with a hip flexor injury amid speculation he was unhappy about being a substitute.

But the 37-year-old superstar came roaring back after just two days of training this week to revive United’s hopes of a top-four finish as they beat Spurs 3-2.

Rangnick admitted managing Ronaldo is ‘a challenge’, having previously revealed he did not know about the player’s flit home.

But United’s interim boss added: ‘We were just joking and maybe it makes sense to send him to Portugal for three days, then have him not training for two days, then have him back training on Thursday, if that’s the way he performs. Maybe we’ll have to do that for the rest of the season!

‘He was on a similar level in training on Thursday by the way, which is why I decided after that training session to play him from the start. He made the difference for sure, but not only for the three goals. That was the best performance from him, at least since I arrived here.’

Asked about managing a player like Ronaldo, Rangnick added: ‘Yeah it is challenging. It’s a challenge with a player like him.

‘But he showed today that he’s still got the quality to play for a club like Manchester United. If we want to be successful at the end of the season, we have to do it together.

‘He showed that he is physically able to do that, but we also have to admit he has not always been like that the past couple of weeks and months.’

Paul Pogba paid tribute to his team-mate, who officially became the leading scorer in FIFA’s history with 807 goals.

‘Ronaldo was brilliant,’ said Pogba. ‘Everybody knows Cristiano — there’s no need to talk about him. He didn’t play in the last game, but he comes back and scores three goals.

‘He has never been a problem. We have the best striker in history in our team, he cannot be a problem.’

Tottenham equalised twice through Harry Kane’s penalty and an own-goal from United skipper Harry Maguire, but Spurs boss Antonio Conte admitted that Ronaldo was the difference.

He said: ‘I think honestly, without Ronaldo, for United it wasn’t a good night.’