THE PROBLEM – How One Man Carried Manchester United Alone

Earlier in the season, you were talking about him as the problem for Manchester United rather than the solution. The biggest problem would be Ronaldo. Ronaldo is a problem, mate. He really is. Some of the problems they have are caused by Ronaldo's presence. He is a problem because he cannot do what younger players can. Right, right. The better without him, they score more goals without him and they win more points without him. That's a fact. He's coming to the end of his career. Manchester United are a better team without him, Roy. He's just got a 38-year-old problem. That's what he is. Every time they play in the Champions League, Manchester United are when they need it most. Selfish. Selfish. Wants his own records in the Champions League, goals and appearances. Cristiano Ronaldo in the Champions League again for Manchester United. That lives its dream. It's fantasy hero. Retreads the ball. He doesn't give you enough back. He doesn't give you enough back at the moment. He doesn't. He came back to the club for moments like that, nights like these, and they all sinister all the way through. You've just got to let him go. Get rid of him. Get him out. Lead him out the door as quickly as possible. He was a nuisance. He was a problem. He was not the same player he was. He should never have gone back to that club. When they needed him. When they needed him. Famous sons. One of their most famous number sevens delivers when it matters. Proves to be a winning goal on a big, big night for Manchester United. What are both of your thoughts on the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo? Breathed in red. Restored to this great gallery of the game. A walking work of art. Greenwood. Greenwood had a pop. Woodman-Smith, close your eyes. Cristiano Ronaldo has stolen back the show. Gathering speed. We're going to play in Ronaldo. It is Ronaldo. It's two. Lives in stream. It's fantasy hero. Retreads the ball. A phenomenon. Indeed. He's one of the best players that's ever walked on this planet. Another chapter in the story. That triumph for VAR was their first ever major trophy. A lot of the players were in tears. Danger here with Dan Schumer. And there's Alcázar to put it away. Now they have taken a chance. And Manchester United's problems deepen. Cristiano Ronaldo trying to lift the mood. Fizz to cross. Right across the face of goal. With a wonderful opportunity. And usually he gobbles those up. And he's wondering how he didn't. Bruno Fernandes. Telles. It's a great hit. And it's a great goal. Here's a United second goal coming. Amid all of the drama here. Ronaldo. Down towards Lingard. Ronaldo. Make this big landmark. In the Champions League. Number 7. Cristiano Ronaldo. Delivers. The critical moments. He steps up anytime. Any stadium. Any country. Any place. Biggest moments. He's there to deliver. Incredible night. Incredible rescue. You've done it again. You've got to have it. Hell yeah. I like that. Netherlands the second time. Spurs may still resemble Forrest Gump's box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get. Turning it round to Ronaldo. Spells quality. For a number of years now. And I've seen this many times. This is greatness for you. And you can't say they haven't deserved it. Tottenham back on level terms. Sancho. Ronaldo. He's determined to have the final say. And Reguilón pulls it across. Oh it's gone in. It's an own goal off Maguire. Manchester United. Architects. On their own downfall. They've been inviting pressure. Maguire. It's down to Ronaldo. Cavani. Swung in. Ronaldo. Of course. He has done it again. Absolutely inevitable. Zatric. He has his standing ovation. He has the match ball. He scored three goals. We lost 3-2. We lost against him. Not against United. He slows everything down. He doesn't press. He doesn't close down from the front. He doesn't chase back. He can't press. He can't run. Did he press as well? Yeah he did. Ronaldo doesn't. We talk about people pressing. But he can't press as simple as that. People down doesn't press. But puts the ball in the back of the net. He does the hardest thing that you can do in the game. United turn it over. Ronaldo taking it on. Where would they be without him this season? Well honestly I really don't know. I mean he's been absolutely phenomenal. Without Ronaldo's goals they're out of the group. They don't qualify. But he really is the only difference maker in this group isn't he? Absolutely. He was rubbish and he was still scoring goals. It was crazy. I don't know how many he scored that year. The way Manchester United are playing at the moment it's a good job he's there because they need him to do that. I think Ronaldo is maybe the only light that they had through the season for Manchester United. Was it always going to be Cristiano Ronaldo to get the winner? Of course. That's just what he does. I think he's proven to everyone that if they want to criticise him for work rates I think just watch this game. Scores. And United will have to come from behind. It's a good corner. It's 2-0. It's Demiral. And it's gone from bad to worse for Manchester United. Big, big night. And they're in a big, big hole. It is in again. Helped on by Cavani. Big problems in Champions League group F. Shaw. Into Ronaldo! Manchester United lead 3-2. And who else? CR7. Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo stepping up every time. He looks like a one-man band. He keeps saving and keeps saving the team. Cristiano, you did it again. It's your job. It's my job, yeah. Are they able to repel it easily? And De Gea is down hurt. It's rifled into the net by Emil Smith-Rowe. Here's a chance! Create the room for Aubameyang. Rasha playing it in! It is! Ronaldo hits 800. Equaliser for 2-2 here. Might come now. It's Martinelli with the set-up. Urdegaard with the finish. Immediate response from Arsenal. Sancho. Fred going down. Referee again. 800 becomes 801 in the book. Manchester United's advantage restored in this top-seat derby. It's what he does, you know, it's what he does in the big games, in the big moments when you need a goal and you need that little bit of something and he's there to deliver. The goddess and the red devil. So, what next? He's driven against Baran. Iličić! Cristiano Ronaldo in here for Fernandes. Ronaldo! The magic man does his thing again when in need. Call seven. Cristiano Ronaldo again in the Champions League. Over the top here for Duvan Zapata who scores! He was onside and Manchester United pay the price after Leicester 2. Manchester United 1. Well, there you go. Enjoy Ronaldo going tackle. Here come the Manchester United Greenwood. Ronaldo's on to it. Greenwood juggling. Ronaldo! Oh, he will do it again! He surely hasn't done it again! He has just come and done it again! Cristiano Ronaldo saving Manchester United's bacon against Atalanta again every game. And again and again this is incredible it is incredible with you. He's lost the ball in his own penalty area and it's been played across and Manchester United have taken the lead and it's an absolute gift for Ronaldo. Right hand side Telez delivers into the penalty area and there's the header and it is 2-2 They've conceded from a set piece and it is Cristiano Ronaldo again. He looks to rise to the challenge finds Pukki in the penalty area to the left of goal Pukki plays it across there's a chance and there's a goal for Norwich City They've got themselves back into the game Pukki does brilliantly and to Pukki Pukki's through can he score? Pukki! Oh, it's 2-2 Norwich City have come from 2-0 down and Old Trafford the first goal was Pukki for Dal and now the favour has been returned Pukki I don't see this at all but a free kick to Manchester United with 15 minutes to go and the score 2-2 Stratford End waits in anticipation Ronaldo up to the ball and he fires it in off the post a sensational free kick he's completed his hat-trick against Norwich City in front of the Stratford End the Canaries have put so much into this they don't deserve to be behind but with 15 minutes to go that's where they are and without Ronaldo erm they're not gonna score the goals cos the hardest thing to do in football is to score goals and this guy who scores goals you hope that there's you know that he can score those big goals and I just think he gives this team so much confidence he's gonna get me 20-25 goals he was leading goal scorer last year for Man United I don't think he'll be doing too much pressing then Man United have lost three games this season but we'll criticise Ronaldo because the only thing he does is score goals no but there's more to this than that and he's