Cristiano Ronaldo gave Manchester United fans a taste of what they expect to get from his second coming to Old Trafford with a trio of stunning finishes to see Tottenham 3-2 on Saturday. Ronaldo’s 59th career hat-trick was only his second for United and a first in 14 years as his second spell failed to match the hype surrounding his signing in August.
United enter the well-rounded Champions League round of 16 tie against Atletico Madrid, after a 1-1 draw in the Spanish capital, knowing European glory is their only remaining chance for silverware this season.
Ronaldo has tended to keep his best for the Champions League this season, scoring six group stage goals just to ensure United do not suffer the ignominy of a group stage exit for the second successive season.
However, his subdued performance as a frustrated and isolated figure outside the Wanda Metropolitano three weeks ago was more reflective of the issues Ralf Rangnick faced during his caretaker tenure as United manager.
The German is seen as the godfather of the energetic and pressing style of play that inspired Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel to become Champions League-winning coaches.
Rangnick was unable to implement the same verve at United, much of which was blamed on a 37-year-old Ronaldo’s inability or unwillingness to press.
The Portuguese has also been named as the source of dressing room worry stories that seem to leak out after every poor result.
Amid reports he was to be dropped for the Manchester derby last weekend, Ronaldo returned to his homeland to treat a hip injury which was given as the official reason for missing a 4-1 thrashing at the Etihad.
‘KEEP PLAYING’
Rangnick joked that he should perhaps sanction the trip more regularly after Ronaldo returned to Manchester in scintillating form to put Spurs to the sword.
But he also hasn’t held back in his assessment of Ronaldo’s work off the ball in recent weeks.
“Today he showed for sure that he was physically capable of doing it,” Rangnick said of Ronaldo’s defensive contribution.
“You also have to admit that it hasn’t always been like that in recent weeks and months.
“Today showed exactly that he is still in physical shape to perform at this level. »
Ronaldo’s performance impressed Tom Brady as the seven-time Super Bowl winner told his fellow superstar to ‘keep playing’ as they embraced on the Old Trafford pitch after the game.
Whether he stays for the second year of his contract at United will heavily depend on whether the Red Devils qualify for the Champions League next season.
In the twilight years of his career, he can hardly afford a season off the biggest stage where he shines the most.
Atletico know this only too well. Between 2014 and 2019, Ronaldo was on the opposite side for his five Champions League round of 16 outings, twice delivering the ultimate blow in final defeats to Real Madrid.
Ronaldo’s hat-trick on Saturday set another goalscoring record as he now has the most goals in men’s professional football according to FIFA records with 807.
Only Sevilla have suffered more in that tally than the 25 Atletico have conceded.
As United’s struggles have been exposed, Ronaldo may not be the force he once was.
But he’s still the one Diego Simeone’s men will fear most to come back to haunt them on the big occasion.
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