As Manchester United fans celebrated a 2-1 win over Villarreal on Wednesday, midfielder Donny van de Beek became the focus of attention after his reaction to a decision by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
In a match where United were far from their best, Cristiano Ronaldo scored an injury-time winner for the side against a team who are fast-becoming problematic opponents.
Solskjaer had shifted to a midfield three - with Scott McTominay, Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes - but with positional discipline becoming an issue, the manager was left with decisions to make.
On came Fred and Jesse Lingard, and midfielder van de Beek was overlooked again, as footage of the substitutions caught the Dutchman apparently frustrated at the decision.
“It is a massive result for the team and the spirit of the team as well,” Solskjær said. after the match.
“We gave ourselves a difficult job with the sending off in the last game so to get three points at home is important – now we need to get to 10 or maybe 12 to get through.”
Solskjaer was keen to praise Ronaldo for his winner.
“He has done that so many times.
"When you saw him against Ireland a few weeks ago [for Portugal] he missed a penalty early, didn’t touch the ball more or less, then scored two great headers in the last two minutes. That is just what he has done throughout his career, he is so strong mentally, he just stays in the game.
“I have seen him all day today, the way he has built himself up for this game, how focused he has been and when he gets that one chance it is a goal. He had a couple of half decent headers in the first half that could have ended up with chances but it is the mark of a true finisher that he comes alive when the chance arrives.”
Solskjaer was keen to praise a win that came in the fashion Manchester United fans became accustomed to under past managers.
“That is what happens here at Old Trafford, it’s happened so many times before,” he said. “We have to throw caution to the wind and we got lucky in the end.
“I won’t sleep well because of the adrenaline but you are on to the Everton game [at the weekend] already.”
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