Supporters are scrambling around to find positives when discussing the red half of Manchester, so lets take a moment to focus on Cristiano Ronaldo’s five best goals for Manchester United in 2021/22.
For all the doom and gloom surrounding the twenty-time league champions, if it wasn’t for Ronaldo’s goals this season, United’s season would have been embarrassingly worst.
The 37-year-old has produced the goods in front of goal since making his emotional return to Old Trafford from Juventus at the end of August.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has scored 24 goals this season. For context, Bruno Fernandes is United’s second top scorer with 10 goals in the Premier League.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s five best goals for Manchester United in 2021/22
With Manchester United fans breathing a huge sigh of relief that the season is finally over and that we can finally look forward to the start of the Erik ten Hag era, who has been labelled a ‘perfect match’ for Manchester United, we take a look at Cristiano Ronaldo’s five best goals for Manchester United in 2021/22…
Newcastle – Home
Old Trafford was a cauldron of noise for Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United which came against Newcastle United.
It was inevitable that United’s legendary number seven would mark his return with a goal and he broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time after Freddie Woodman spilt Mason Greenwood’s shot.
The great Portuguese tapped the ball home to blow the roof off the Theatre of Dreams when Ronaldo set off and celebrated with his trademark ‘Siuuu’.
But the Magpies briefly threatened to spoil Ronaldo’s big day when Javier Manquilo equalised for Steve Bruce’s side in the 56th-minute.
However, just six minutes later and it was that man Ronaldo once again. With Luke Shaw in possession, Ronaldo showed blistering pace to get away from Isaac Hayden before smashing the ball through Woodman’s legs with his left foot.
United won the game 4-1 and fans were dreaming of an assault on the Premier League title – how wrong were we!
Tottenham – Away
After getting dismantled by Liverpool in a 5-0 annihilation the week prior, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer opted to sure up his backline for the trip to Tottenham by playing three at the back.
Changing the formation meant that Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani started their only game together during the Norwegian’s tenure.
While Solskjaer’s job was becoming increasingly insecure, Spurs showed next to little fight for Nuno Espirito Santo and United cruised to a 3-0 win in north London.
But it was that man Ronaldo who broke the deadlock with a clinical volley into the far bottom corner from a tight angle after a clever pass from Fernandes.
Ronaldo then turned provider for United’s second by setting up Cavani.
Atalanta – Away
Three days after his influential performance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Ronaldo dragged United through another Champions League upon making his first appearance in Italy since leaving Turin.
Ronaldo cancelled out Atalanta’s opener, which came via Josip ilicic, following one of our moves of the season which involved Greenwood and Fernandes.
But after Duvan Zapata reclaimed Atalanta’s lead, it looked like Solskjaer’s Reds were heading for defeat in Bergamo before Ronaldo produced yet another rescue act.
In injury time, the balled came to the man who has scored over 800 career goals via Greenwood and Ronaldo unleashed a volley into the far bottom corner to snatch a priceless point for the Reds.
That was Ronaldo’s fifth goal in four Champions League group games and he would later add a sixth in Villarreal.
Tottenham – Home
After missing the 4-1 battering to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, Ronaldo was back in the starting line-up for the visit of Tottenham.
United’s number seven broke the deadlock with a stunning long-range strike which flew passed Hugo Lloris, leaving the World Cup winner with no chance.
Ronaldo would go on to score his 59th career hat-trick in the game against Antonio Conte’s Spurs and his treble of goals saw him become FIFA’s all-time goalscorer.
In the next Premier League match Ronaldo played at Old Trafford, Portugal’s captain scored his 60th career hat-trick in a 3-2 win against Norwich City.
Chelsea – Home
With United’s season fizzling out without trace under interim boss Ralf Rangnick, Ronaldo was still keen to set the standards in the home clash against Chelsea.
Thomas Tuchel’s side dominated possession and Ronaldo wasn’t given a sniff of goal.
But when his only chance of the game presented itself, Ronaldo was at his clinical best, he latched onto Nemanja Matic’s lofted pass before smashing the passed a stricken Edouard Mendy.
Ronaldo finished the season by scoring in four consecutive games at the Theatre of Dreams, the big question will be whether he has the chance to make it number five next season with Ten Hag due to take charge.