(Villarreal – Manchester United 0-2) Who else? Cristiano Ronaldo scored and Michael Carrick won his first match as substitute manager. United advance to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
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That was Ronaldo’s 140th goal in the Champions League. And once again it was beautifully done. Ronaldo stood with his back to goal, got the ball, turned and tipped the ball over Villarreal’s goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli. An exquisite touch, an exquisite goal.
And one minute before full time, Jadon Sancho increased with a dream hit. He got some time and put it really hard in the nearest cross. Rulli had no chance. This was Sancho’s first goal for United.
Former Everton player Leon Osman believes Sancho has suffered from playing for a team that lacks confidence.
– It’s tough when you are in a new club and there are high expectations for you. You have to get up and nod to deliver, and it kind of does not happen. The team lacks confidence and you lack confidence. But today Jadon Sancho created a number of opportunities and for me he was match winners, says Osman to BBC Radio.
Now Manchester United leads Group F and is on to the final game in the Champions League, for United now stands with ten points, Villarreal is left with seven. Atalanta can go up to eight points with a win against Young Boys at 21.00 tonight, but since Villarreal and Atalanta meet in the last round, both can not go past the Reds from Manchester.
– Tough days
Manager-substitute Carrick was Solskjær’s assistant for the almost three years the Norwegian had the job, now he gives the victory to Solskjær.
– It has been tough days for us in the club. It feels as if the result today is for Ole, I can not get away from it, says Michael Carrick to the club’s own TV channel, MUTV, after the match.
Former United star Paul Scholes has faith in the way United played on Tuesday.
“They may play in the same way against Chelsea this weekend, it is against tougher opposition, but he can set up the game in the same way,” Scholes told BT Sport.
All indications are that Carrick can count on Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese has contributed significantly to all of United’s ten points in his favorite tournament: With match-winning scores against Villarreal and Atalanta at home, both goals in the 2-2 match against Atalanta in Bergamo and now the first goal away against Villarreal.
–– Showed great hunger
Saturday was Manchester United and Ole Gunnar Sunshine humiliated by Watford, who won 4–1. The next day it was confirmed that Solskjær’s adventure in United is snip, snap, snout.
Former Everton player Leon Osman believes all United players knew what to do.
– It was important that they showed great hunger and a desire to go out there and bleed for the suit. They also needed a battle plan. The players can work as hard as they want, but if everyone has different plans, then nothing will come of it, Osman says to BBC Radio and continued:
– Everyone knew what to do. Suddenly everyone was working really hard. One needs rat everyone is involved and is a part of it.
Solskjær’s assistant Michael Carrick has stepped up as substitute manager. He made four changes from the team that lost to Watford. Fred, Donny van de Beek, Alex Telles and Anthony Martial all came in from the start. while Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Nemenja Matic started on the bench. Luke Shaw, who started against Watford, was completely out of the squad on Tuesday, since he is being investigated for a concussion.
–In addition, Manchester has four key players who are not currently playable Paul Pogba, Raphael Varane and Edinson Cavani are struggling with injuries, while Mason Greenwood is out with the corona.
Hyller De Gea
David De Gea kept the visitors in the game with several good saves. After 58 minutes, Trigueros Munoz hit the ground hard, but he refused the attention of the trainer and rejoined his teammates on the pitch. Masterful.
The Times journalist Harry Winter pays tribute to the United goalkeeper.
“Where would Manchester United have been without De Gea? Continues to save them. Another athletic rescue “, writes Winter.
The home team had the initiative in the match, but beyond the second half, United was more involved. Was more offensive and challenged more.
Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp responded with laughter and “no” to questions about Manchester United on Tuesday:
Ole Gunnar Solskjær was full of emotion when he said goodbye to Manchester United:
See more statistics for the Champions League on VG Live.–
