Once again for Manchester United this season, Cristiano Ronaldo chipped in with a late goal that avoided them a defeat and won them points. In their Champions League trip to Atalanta, the Portuguese forward scored twice, in the first half stoppage time and second half stoppage time, to make sure they drew with the Italian team 2-2.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who has been riding on the edge in the last few weeks with United, was elated with the forward scoring those clutch goals, but also emphasized that they shouldn’t be happy with the result as they conceded two avoidable goals.
The Norwegian also compared the impact Ronaldo had on his side to that of the sixt-time NBA champion Michael Jordan, who played a crucial role for the Chicago Bulls although many had written him off for his age towards the end of his career, but provided some crucial contributions in helping his side win the title.
“We’re not happy conceding two goals – but he does provide those moments and I’m sure the Chicago Bulls didn’t mind having Michael Jordan either. Sometimes teams have the players they have and that’s why they are Manchester United, that’s why they are champions at the Chicago Bulls. You just come up with those moments,”
Solskjaer said in the press conference.
Ronaldo completed his move to United in dramatic circumstances towards the end of the transfer window. He has scored in each one of the Champions League games until now, scoring twice now against Atalanta to take his goal-scoring tally to 5. The 37-year-old has made ten goal contributions for the side, scoring nine and assisting one in 11 appearances.
United have another problem with Raphael Varane, who was subbed in the first half after he felt his hamstring. The centre-back was out for a couple of weeks earlier, which led to the side getting into a disastrous run of form.
The manager has confirmed that the injury doesn’t look good, and it is likely he might not appear in the Manchester derby that will take place this Saturday at Old Trafford. With Eric Bailly stepping up with a big performance against Atalanta, he could get a start in a back three against the current English champions.
