EUROPA LEAGUE – Manchester United – Holder and scorer: Cristiano Ronaldo remained focused

Cristiano Ronaldo is still an exceptional goalscorer. If some still doubted it, the meeting of CR7 against Sheriff Tiraspol was the illustration of this state of affairs. Returning to collective training only on Tuesday after being left out of the group for the trip to Chelsea, the Portuguese was established this Thursday in the Europa League. And despite the context, he still found the resources to shake the nets.

Between the controversies over his refusal to come into play against Tottenham in the league, his sidelining and the rumors that announce him leaving this winter – which seems inevitable today given the situation -, Cristiano Ronaldo had reasons to have your head elsewhere this Thursday evening. Especially since without insulting Sheriff Tiraspol, it was not the status of the opponent of the day that could motivate him. But it was very bad to know the fivefold Ballon d’Or. As always, he knew how to stay focused. And display his exceptional competitor mentality to further improve his statistics.

It does the job in C3

Lined up for the fifth time this season in the Europa League, Cristiano Ronaldo has shown a constant desire to free himself by doing what he has done best for more than 15 years now at the highest level: to score. And after watching one of his headers cleared for a corner (15th) then one of his shots going wide (59th) before being denied a goal for offside (61st), he was finally rewarded for his efforts. in the 82nd to add to the score after goals from Diogo Dalot (45th) and Marcus Rashford (66th) by doing it twice after a header diverted by the goalkeeper. He was then able to explode before offering Old Trafford a new landmark celebration.

Reduced to a bare minimum in the Premier League where he has only scored one goal this season in eight match ends (340 minutes in all), Cristiano Ronaldo thus keeps his head held high in Europe. It is certainly not the Champions League, his favorite competition that he wanted at all costs to find this summer. But the Europa League. And in this C3 where Manchester United will play first place in Group E against Real Sociedad next Thursday, he has two goals and one assist in five outings. Clearly, and despite the controversies, CR7 is still doing the job on the European scene.

“Super“, also launched his coach Ten Hag when he was questioned about the performance of his “protégé” by BT Sport. “He created and the team created for him. He needed a goal to restart the machine. And after others will come, I’m sure“. It remains to be seen whether it will be at Manchester United when the matches are no longer legion before the World Cup. After the World Cup, the future of CR7 could be written far from the North of England.