Manchester United players arrived at The Lowry Hotel before their Premier League game vs Southampton on Friday night.
24.01.2022 - 20:15 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
One of the privileges of covering Manchester United from Old Trafford's press box is the seats allocated to the MEN are adjacent to the visiting team's analysts.
The former Blackburn and Scotland midfielder, Billy McKinlay, and Nottingham Forest and England legend Stuart Pearce, were sat next to each other on a spacious desk on Saturday, separated from the middle section where reporters are as crammed in as commuters on the tube.
It was deep into the second-half when McKinlay identified a problem. "Ronaldo in that pocket is killing us again," he said ominously.
Other than his matchwinning moments, the most awe-inspiring attribute Ronaldo has showcased back at United is his lay-offs by dropping off. Whether it is a flick, a header or via his chest, his cushioned touches from long balls are immaculate and worthy of a montage on Twitter. Ronaldo sent Bruno Fernandes through to set up Mason Greenwood at Brentford last week.
It is a double-edged sword witnessing a finale as coruscating as Saturday's. You try to drink it in, gleaning as much colour in real-time before reviewing the replay. And still, you cannot absorb every detail as you frantically tap the keys.
The standout feature of United's winner was all three substitutes combined. What Ronaldo did prior to feeding Anthony Martial was just as significant. Alex Telles's underhit hoik is misjudged by Ryan Fredericks and his mistimed header drops to the loitering Ronaldo in the pocket. And that's where Ronaldo goes in for the kill.
Fredericks is already out of position, having followed Jarrod Bowen up the right-hand side, when he desperately chases down Ronaldo, who also has Declan Rice steaming in. Fredericks panics when, in hindsight, he should leave Rice to close
Manchester United players arrived at The Lowry Hotel before their Premier League game vs Southampton on Friday night.
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Rangnick's magic touch
Manchester United moved into the top four in the Premier League on Saturday thanks to the late show from Marcus Rashford in the third minute of stoppage time.