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Featured Image Credit: Sky Sports
Topics: Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo, West Ham United, Premier League
Daniel Marland
Topics: Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo, West Ham United, Premier League
Cristiano Ronaldo managed to 'kill' West Ham's defence during Manchester United's dramatic 1-0 win and it was spotted by a number of analysts.
Marcus Rashford scored in the 93rd minute to move United into the top four for the first time in three months.
Substitutes Anthony Martial and Edinson Cavani played vital roles on the ball for the goal, but off the ball, it was Ronaldo who stole the show.
Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News tweeted: "One of the West Ham analysts said deep into the second-half: 'Ronaldo in that pocket is killing us again.'
"Watching the goal back, he's in that area and draws two players towards him, freeing up room down the left for Martial and Cavani."
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has been criticised at points this season for not offering enough effort in attack, despite scoring 14 times in all competitions.
Some have even claimed Ronaldo's return disrupted the harmony of United's squad and their rhythm up top.
The 36-year-old did cut a frustrated figure after Mason Greenwood refused to cut the ball back to him earlier in the game.
Since Ralf Rangnick's arrival however, Ronaldo has attempted to be more of a team player.
He played a vital role off the ball for Rashford's winner at Old Trafford, as well as Anthony Elanga's opener vs Brentford on Wednesday night.
Ronaldo again drew two defenders towards him as Fred lifted a ball over the Bees' backline.
It allowed Elanga to take a lovely touch and fire home the opener.
United go into the international break having lost just once in the league under interim boss Rangnick.
Rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal have games in hand, but United look to be clicking for the first time in a while.
Rangnick joked at full-time: “I don’t know how long Fergie time was. Was that the last five minutes? How long? I wouldn’t mind if that happened!
“But, again, of course we would also like to have more games like Brentford at the end when we were 3-0 up.
“But if you score with the last seconds of the game, the big advantage is there is no time for the team to reply and that was a good one about the goal.”