Manchester United 3-2 Tottenham Hotspur
By Adam Millington
at Old Trafford

Manchester United made another stride towards Champions League qualification as they overcame Tottenham Hotspur’s strong performance to win 3-2 on Saturday evening.

With Cristiano Ronaldo returning after missing last weekend’s derby day drubbing with a hip flexor injury, the Portuguese forward spurred his side on to victory with a hat-trick split across the game’s two halves.

Now the all-time top scorer in men’s football, he produced a fine strike from distance to open the scoring before adding two more goals across the ninety.

"Today it was his best performance, at least since I arrived,” Ralf Rangnick said of the forward. “He was good in training on Thursday and that is why I decided to start him. Fantastic performance by him but also by the rest of the team.

"He can do it [get 70,000 people off their feet], but again he can also do it only with the team. A fantastic performance. It was not just the three goals today it was also he was part of the team when they were in possession of the ball.

"We showed the kind reaction we were due to show after the bad second half at the Etihad. The team deserved to win, coming back after two equalising goals in that style was great."

For a team which had looked so weak in last week’s derby at the Etihad, United’s performance was of stark contrast. They may have been playing an opposition who are far from as strong as City, but Spurs are still a force to be reckoned with in their own right.

Consistency is key, but if Rangnick manages to pick the right combination of players and tactics for each game, then this United side has the propensity to perform.

Ronaldo is a figure for the Reds whose importance is debatable. Sometimes he can seem to be a hindrance, limiting the ways in which they attack, but at the weekend he showed the benefits he can bring to this side.

He may not be as mobile as he used to be, he may not even be able to produce the skills he used to, but that goalscorers’ instinct is something which is rarely lost.

His first was perhaps the best display of how — while some of his game may have changed over the years — his eye for goal has not waned.

After a stellar pass from Fred, Ronaldo spotted his opportunity and took advantage. Striking hard with his laces, his dipping effort left the diving Hugo Lloris looking on, unable to stop its flight towards the top corner.

Spurs would equalise through a Harry Kane penalty after Dejan Kulusevski’s cross hit the hand of Alex Telles, but their lead did not last long.

Because a mere three minutes later, the Portuguese forward cemented his status as the top scorer of all time in the men’s game. Sancho, who had a good performance all round, delivered a tempting low ball into the box and Ronaldo, who had timed his run perfectly, was at hand to tap in his second of the evening.

Then came the break, chants of “Viva Ronaldo” echoing around the ground as the players walked off. Spurs had played well and were arguably the better of the two teams, but his ruthlessness just couldn’t be matched.

Tottenham came out of the changing room the stronger of the two, with Kulusevski performing particularly well down the right-hand side. Sergio Reguilon and Rodrigo Bentacur, too, gave United problems and the Reds were left clinging onto the lead by the skin of their teeth.

Kulusevski was at hand to provide a great cross towards Heung-Min Son, but the South Korean’s effort went wide. The moment was a sign of Spurs’ afternoon: they played well, but not well enough.

The travelling supporters were handed a lifeline when Harry Maguire bundled the ball into his own net to draw the scores level once again, but that wasn’t going to be the end of this match.

While not the highest-quality affair, it made up for what it was lacking in class by the fun and drama it provided; a draw just never seemed likely.

And so when Ronaldo leaped the highest and directed a header into the back of the net in the 81st minute, it came as little surprise. After his hip flexor injury debacle, it seemed almost prophetic that he would be the one to seal the victory.

Even Antonio Conte, the Spurs manager, praised his performance, saying: “We’re talking about a player who not only tonight showed he is a top, top player. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are the two best players in the world in this era. When you play against this type of player, they’re decisive. Without Cristiano Ronaldo, for United it wouldn’t have been a good night.”

United may often leave fans wanting more and may struggle at times defensively, but this was a clear improvement. A comprehensive performance against a fellow competitor in the top half of the table, it showed what Rangnick’s side can produce when all the factors are right.

Player ratings:

Manchester United: 

De Gea - 5

Dalot - 7

Varane - 6 

Maguire - 4

Alex Telles - 6

Matic - 6

Fred - 8 

Rashford - 6

Pogba - 5

Sancho - 7

Ronaldo - 9

Subs:

Elanga - 6

Cavani - 6

Lindelof - N/A

Tottenham Hotspur:

Lloris - 5

Romero - 5

Dier - 6

Davies - 5

Doherty - 6

Bentancur - 7

Hojbjerg - 5

Reguilon - 6

Kulusevski - 7

Son - 7

Kane - 6

Subs:

Moura - 6

Bergwijn - N/A

Winks - N/A