Cometh the hour, cometh Cristiano Ronaldo for the umpteenth time this season to save Manchester United.
After 75 minutes the score was level and Ralf Rangnick’s side were teetering on the brink of another capitulation after holding a two-goal lead. But then Ronaldo smashed a 25-yard free-kick in off Tim Krul’s right post and that was 3-2 – and a second hat-trick since 12 March for the 37-year-old, who now has 15 Premier League goals this season.
Until his intervention this contest was being written up as the latest surrender from Rangnick’s band. Today’s theme had been lax marking and errant defensive positioning: both Kieran Dowell and Teemu Pukki benefited from amateurish execution of these basic tenets.
Norwich deserved maximum credit for their fightback from a 2-0 deficit and the result was looking bleak after the dire 1-0 defeat at Everton, especially against the backdrop of the renewed protests against the Glazer family’s ownership. But Ronaldo’s supreme career is built on him penning the narrative and, with Arsenal losing at Southampton, United are up to fifth and three points behind Tottenham, who were also defeated on Saturday .
Rangnick offered an honest appraisal. “We should’ve defended in a smarter way,” the German said. “If you want to defend properly, in this league you have to be physical. You shouldn’t allow them to go past our lines as easy as that. It’s what this team does not do well enough – we are the only team in the league that defends this way.”
A rancorous atmosphere in the stadium caused by the anti-Glazer sentiment produced an unsavoury moment when Paul Pogba’s withdrawal inspired some fans to abuse him with a three-word chant – two of which were “Pogba” and “off”. At the end when the Frenchman neared the tunnel jeers were directed his way to which he cupped an ear in response.
“I can fully understand the fans have been frustrated and disappointed,” said Rangnick. “So are we. I don’t think it makes any sense to take on and target any individual person or players. It’s a collective responsibility – this is why I will always defend and protect my players.”
United’s opener came on seven minutes when they fanned out to put pressure on a restart from Krul. He tapped the ball to Ben Gibson who fed it to Dimitris Giannoulis. The left-back returned it but Gibson dawdled, was pilfered by Anthony Elanga and when the youngster passed to Ronaldo he rolled home. Cue the pair of them doing Ronaldo’s trademark jump-and-turn celebration to cries of “siuuu” from jubilant fans hailing their Portuguese hero.
United’s second came from a corner and was close to a carbon copy of Ronaldo’s late winner against Tottenham, which came from the same brute strength and aerial prowess on display here. Alex Telles flighted over a corner and Ronaldo’s leap was familiar: a cartoonish show of power and height as the hapless Gibson was bulldozed aside and Krul was beaten again.
It gave United a cushion that surely would allow them to pitter-patter passes around, move their opponents out of position, accumulate more goals and clinch a confidence-boosting victory. Yet by the 52nd minute they had twice been exposed. First Pukki fashioned a one-two with Giannoulis that punched holes in the home defence; the Finn popped over a cross and Dowell headed in. Next came a role reversal: the No 10 passed beyond Victor Lindelöf to Pukki, who stepped forward to pinball the equaliser in off David de Gea’s left post.
The question was what might follow from the protesters if the score remained or became worse for United. Throughout choruses of “we want Glazers out” and “you’re not fit to wear the shirt” were heard. Ronaldo, though, had the final word.
Next up is Tuesday’s trip to Liverpool. Rangnick said: “If we play like we played today it will be very difficult to get even a point out of this game.”
