Ronaldo’s Man Utd return lived up to all expectations, says Solskjaer
Premier
League:
Ronaldo
double
on
second
debut
sends
Red
Devils
top
Solskjaer’s
United
were
4-1
winners
at
Old
Trafford
on
Saturday,
as
the
returning
Ronaldo
started
and
netted
the
opener
before
restoring
the
hosts’ lead
following
Javier
Manquillo’s
equaliser.
Bruno
Fernandes
and
Jesse
Lingard
added
stunning
late
strikes,
but
this
was
Ronaldo’s
day
–
just
as
the
United
fans
had
hoped.
More
than
12
years
on
from
his
previous
Premier
League
outing
–
a
record
gap
–
the
36-year-old
delivered
the
goods
once
again.
Ronaldo
returns
–
Opta
data
shows
Cristiano
was
a
hit
on
second
Man
Utd
debut
Solskjaer
told
Sky
Sports
he
did
not
consider
starting
Ronaldo
from
the
bench
as
“this
is
what
Cristiano
is
about
–
this
was
a
day
for
everyone
to
enjoy”.
Enjoy
it
the
home
fans
did,
seeing
their
side
attempt
21
shots
–
including
six
from
Ronaldo
–
in
a
thrilling
attacking
display,
even
if
Newcastle
were
in
the
game
for
long
periods.
“When
you
win
a
game,
you
enjoy
it,”
Solskjaer
said.
“When
you
see
fans
being
happy,
you
really
enjoy
it.
“There
were
loads
of
expectations.
They
all
delivered.
We
have
to
deliver
every
time.
That’s
Manchester
United.
It
doesn’t
change.”
The
link-up
between
Ronaldo
and
Fernandes
was
the
source
of
particular
encouragement
given
their
lack
of
fluency
at
times
for
Portugal.
Only
Mohamed
Salah
(32)
has
scored
more
Premier
League
goals
than
Fernandes
(30)
since
he
joined
United,
yet
his
international
tally
has
increased
by
just
three
in
that
time.
The
midfielder
linked
up
effectively
with
Ronaldo
on
Saturday,
however,
even
outside
of
their
goals.
To
no
player
did
Ronaldo
play
more
passes
than
his
nine
to
Fernandes,
while
there
were
11
in
return.
The
only
chance
Ronaldo
created
was
for
his
compatriot.
“Good
players
can
always
play
together,”
Solskjaer
said.
“They
have
a
mutual
respect
and
play
for
Portugal
together.”
Fernandes
agreed,
adding:
“Everyone
knows
what
Cristiano
brings
to
the
club
and
the
world
of
football.
“It’s
about
everything
we
can
do
for
the
team,
and
getting
results.
Good
players
can
always
be
good
together
and
play
in
the
same
team.”
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