KEY POINTS

  • Cristiano Ronaldo had a heartfelt message to their fans after the win against Villareal
  • Ronaldo and Alex Telles steered the Red Devils to victory versus Villareal
  • They are now just one point behind Atalanta in Group F of the Champions League

Cristiano Ronaldo had an emotionally touching message to the fans after leading Manchester United to a great 2-1 victory over Villareal in a UEFA Champions League matchup.

Speaking after the match, Ronaldo once again declared his love for Manchester United fans.

“I have to say thank you to all of them [the fans], not only for me, but to push the team which will be very important, especially this season."

The Red Devils found themselves staring down the barrel of a gun once again in the Champions League group stage after allowing Villareal’s Paco Alcacer to score right in front of goalkeeper David de Gea at the 53rd minute.

However, Manchester United would strike back seven minutes later.

Alex Telles volleyed a high cross from Bruno Fernandes just outside the box, towards the goal and a friendly bounce helped it get through the sea of humanity inside the box.

Ronaldo and everyone in Old Trafford knew that settling for a draw would not help their chances of making it out of the group stage.

By repeatedly breaking down Villareal’s excellent defending, a breakthrough was bound to happen at some point.

Both Paul Pogba and Edinson Cavani found opportunities to score the game-winner, but they were denied from converting their attempts.

As fate would have it, it would be Ronaldo who would once again come to the rescue of his beloved Manchester United.

A messy sequence of events led to Jesse Lingard having the ball deep in the box, who tapped it to Ronaldo, scoring the match-winner in the final minute of stoppage time that sent the Old Trafford crowd into a frenzy

“If we [do] not [get] three points today, it will be tough to go through to the next stage but now everything is possible, everything is open and we believe we go through,” Ronaldo stated.

“This is why I came back, I missed this club a lot. I made history in this club, and I want to do it again.”

Manchester United is now just one point behind Atalanta in Group F and will need a win when they face each other on October 21.

Before that, they have a business to take care of in the English Premier League as they welcome Everton to Old Trafford on Saturday, October 2.

RELATED STORIES