• MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David De Gea 9 - Saved from Danjuma after six minutes. And again from the same player on 15. And another on 16. And again. You get the picture. There was no way United would have been in the game without him. EPA
    MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David De Gea 9 - Saved from Danjuma after six minutes. And again from the same player on 15. And another on 16. And again. You get the picture. There was no way United would have been in the game without him. EPA
  • Diogo Dalot 4 - Right back who had a very, very tough job marking Danjuma. Poor control in the second half. Zero surprise when beaten by Danjumu in the build up to Villarreal’s goal. EPA
    Diogo Dalot 4 - Right back who had a very, very tough job marking Danjuma. Poor control in the second half. Zero surprise when beaten by Danjumu in the build up to Villarreal’s goal. EPA
  • Raphael Varane 6 - Blocked an 8th minute attack and made a key interception against a team he’d played against many time on 15 to stop yet another Spanish attack. Missed a challenge which led Alcacer to get a fine chance after 31 and nowhere for Villarreal’s goal. Reuters
    Raphael Varane 6 - Blocked an 8th minute attack and made a key interception against a team he’d played against many time on 15 to stop yet another Spanish attack. Missed a challenge which led Alcacer to get a fine chance after 31 and nowhere for Villarreal’s goal. Reuters
  • Victor Lindelof 6 - Best moment was when he charged back to make a 2 v 1 Villarreal attack and cut the play out. Average. AP
    Victor Lindelof 6 - Best moment was when he charged back to make a 2 v 1 Villarreal attack and cut the play out. Average. AP
  • Alex Telles 6 - Villarreal stretched him and his night was summed up when he fell over trying to cross the ball after 47. Then he hit the sweetest volley from a Bruno free-kick to equalise after 60. He was rightly delighted. Booked for a silly tackle on 71, but made a late block. AP
    Alex Telles 6 - Villarreal stretched him and his night was summed up when he fell over trying to cross the ball after 47. Then he hit the sweetest volley from a Bruno free-kick to equalise after 60. He was rightly delighted. Booked for a silly tackle on 71, but made a late block. AP
  • Scott McTominay 5 - Won the ball and set up United’s first attack. Out passed in the middle in the first half, less so in the second. Good block on 88 as Villarreal attacked yet again. Volleyed on target at the other end on 90. EPA
    Scott McTominay 5 - Won the ball and set up United’s first attack. Out passed in the middle in the first half, less so in the second. Good block on 88 as Villarreal attacked yet again. Volleyed on target at the other end on 90. EPA
  • Paul Pogba 6 - Played alongside McTominay in a two which didn’t convince. Headed a corner away as Villarreal created chance after chance. Took a dip at goal from 37 minutes – United’s first shot. Looked surprised when he was brought off. EPA
    Paul Pogba 6 - Played alongside McTominay in a two which didn’t convince. Headed a corner away as Villarreal created chance after chance. Took a dip at goal from 37 minutes – United’s first shot. Looked surprised when he was brought off. EPA
  • Bruno Fernandes 7 - Shot over after 3 and made a superb pass after 33 after United were being outclassed. Came alive but baffled, angry and wound up by what was happening around him. Shot wide after 56, cleverly crossed for Telles goal. Kept crossing and set up Lingard. EPA
    Bruno Fernandes 7 - Shot over after 3 and made a superb pass after 33 after United were being outclassed. Came alive but baffled, angry and wound up by what was happening around him. Shot wide after 56, cleverly crossed for Telles goal. Kept crossing and set up Lingard. EPA
  • Jadon Sancho 6 - Needed to deliver after a flat start to his United career. Busy night for him as Villarreal were strong on the right and he had to bring down Moreno. But better movement going forward and his best game so far in a United shirt. EPA
    Jadon Sancho 6 - Needed to deliver after a flat start to his United career. Busy night for him as Villarreal were strong on the right and he had to bring down Moreno. But better movement going forward and his best game so far in a United shirt. EPA
  • Mason Greenwood 6 - Did well to get a shot off after 71. Booked. Beautiful cross to Cavani on 78. EPA
    Mason Greenwood 6 - Did well to get a shot off after 71. Booked. Beautiful cross to Cavani on 78. EPA
  • Cristiano Ronaldo 7 - Headed well over after 7. Good movement but limited influence in the game as Villarreal kept him quiet. And then he did what he’s paid to do with a vital winner at the Stretford End amid dramatic scenes at Old Trafford. Reuters
    Cristiano Ronaldo 7 - Headed well over after 7. Good movement but limited influence in the game as Villarreal kept him quiet. And then he did what he’s paid to do with a vital winner at the Stretford End amid dramatic scenes at Old Trafford. Reuters
  • SUBS: Edinson Cavani 7 - On for Pogba after 74 to a huge cheer for only his third appearance of the season. Headed wide after 78 after thinking the defender was going to reach the ball. Bad miss. Battled to hang onto the ball and keep alive United’s last gasp attack. Getty
    SUBS: Edinson Cavani 7 - On for Pogba after 74 to a huge cheer for only his third appearance of the season. Headed wide after 78 after thinking the defender was going to reach the ball. Bad miss. Battled to hang onto the ball and keep alive United’s last gasp attack. Getty
  • Nemanja Matic 7 - On for Sancho after 74 in the rain. Tried to calm his players who were rushing for a winner in front of the Stretford End. Whacked by a tackle for Pena, who was booked. Getty
    Nemanja Matic 7 - On for Sancho after 74 in the rain. Tried to calm his players who were rushing for a winner in front of the Stretford End. Whacked by a tackle for Pena, who was booked. Getty
  • Fred N/A - On for compatriot Telles on 88. Good play for the goal. Getty
    Fred N/A - On for compatriot Telles on 88. Good play for the goal. Getty
  • Jesse Lingard N/A - On for Greenwood on 88. Flicked a cross on target, drawing a save from Rulli on 90 and then played a crucial part in setting up Ronaldo. EPA
    Jesse Lingard N/A - On for Greenwood on 88. Flicked a cross on target, drawing a save from Rulli on 90 and then played a crucial part in setting up Ronaldo. EPA
  • VILLARREAL RATINGS: Geronimo Rulli, 5 - It was a mixed day at the office for Rulli after some poor distribution was combined with a few solid saves and questionable keeping for both United goals. Getty
    VILLARREAL RATINGS: Geronimo Rulli, 5 - It was a mixed day at the office for Rulli after some poor distribution was combined with a few solid saves and questionable keeping for both United goals. Getty
  • Juan Foyth, 8 - Controlled Sancho with ease throughout the game and was efficient in just about every challenge he made at Old Trafford. Getty
    Juan Foyth, 8 - Controlled Sancho with ease throughout the game and was efficient in just about every challenge he made at Old Trafford. Getty
  • Raul Albiol, 5 - The veteran was as composed as ever with physical defending combined with good positional work right up until injury time. AP
    Raul Albiol, 5 - The veteran was as composed as ever with physical defending combined with good positional work right up until injury time. AP
  • Pau Torres, 5 - Got caught out of position for United’s winner which was a shame after a really controlled outing from the 24-year-old. EPA
    Pau Torres, 5 - Got caught out of position for United’s winner which was a shame after a really controlled outing from the 24-year-old. EPA
  • Alberto Moreno, 6 - Floated between great clearances and below par concentration in an average yet uneven showing from the former Liverpool man. Getty
    Alberto Moreno, 6 - Floated between great clearances and below par concentration in an average yet uneven showing from the former Liverpool man. Getty
  • MF Dani Parejo, 7 - Fell back into a consistent defensive midfield role that he was pretty composed in from the first whistle until the very last. Getty
    MF Dani Parejo, 7 - Fell back into a consistent defensive midfield role that he was pretty composed in from the first whistle until the very last. Getty
  • Etienne Capoue, 6 - Strung everything together brilliantly in the first half but fell away in the second with a more restricted display. Getty
    Etienne Capoue, 6 - Strung everything together brilliantly in the first half but fell away in the second with a more restricted display. Getty
  • Manu Trigueros, 7 - Trigueros showed some really nice movement and grew into proceedings, eventually leading to him playing a key role in the opener. AP
    Manu Trigueros, 7 - Trigueros showed some really nice movement and grew into proceedings, eventually leading to him playing a key role in the opener. AP
  • Yeremi Pino, 6 - His tricky style was effective for a while but eventually he ran out of steam and constantly failed to track back. Getty
    Yeremi Pino, 6 - His tricky style was effective for a while but eventually he ran out of steam and constantly failed to track back. Getty
  • Paco Alcacer, 7 - Only needed one major chance to hit the back of the net and played an integral role in the build-up - but aside from that, he was fairly quiet. Getty
    Paco Alcacer, 7 - Only needed one major chance to hit the back of the net and played an integral role in the build-up - but aside from that, he was fairly quiet. Getty
  • Arnaut Danjuma, 8 - Despite going through quiet spells the Dutchman was a constant thorn in United’s side and even managed to provide the assist for the visitors’ only goal. Reuters
    Arnaut Danjuma, 8 - Despite going through quiet spells the Dutchman was a constant thorn in United’s side and even managed to provide the assist for the visitors’ only goal. Reuters
  • SUBS: Boulaye Dia, 4 - Carried the ball forward well but couldn’t finish to save his life and had a really poor touch whenever he came into possession. Getty
    SUBS: Boulaye Dia, 4 - Carried the ball forward well but couldn’t finish to save his life and had a really poor touch whenever he came into possession. Getty
  • Pervis Estupinan, 5 - His strong aerial work was cancelled out by a lapse in concentration for Ronaldo’s winner. Getty
    Pervis Estupinan, 5 - His strong aerial work was cancelled out by a lapse in concentration for Ronaldo’s winner. Getty
  • Aissa Mandi, N/A - Mandi simply wasn’t alert enough for Ronaldo’s goal and also looked unbelievably clumsy in most passages of play. Getty
    Aissa Mandi, N/A - Mandi simply wasn’t alert enough for Ronaldo’s goal and also looked unbelievably clumsy in most passages of play. Getty
  • DF Ruben Pena, N/A - Was indecisive on the ball and picked up a needless yellow with a careless challenge in the final few minutes. Getty
    DF Ruben Pena, N/A - Was indecisive on the ball and picked up a needless yellow with a careless challenge in the final few minutes. Getty
  • Moi Gomez, N/A - The substitute was at the heart of many great Villarreal movements which included him forcing a great double save out of de Gea. Getty
    Moi Gomez, N/A - The substitute was at the heart of many great Villarreal movements which included him forcing a great double save out of de Gea. Getty

Sport

Football

Manchester United v Villarreal ratings: De Gea 9, Ronaldo 7; Rulli 5, Capoue 6

Solskjaer admits United got lucky after late win in Champions League

Andy Mitten
Luke Thrower

September 30, 2021

  • English
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted Manchester United "got lucky" after Cristiano Ronaldo marked his record-breaking 178th Champions League appearance with a 95th-minute winner to beat Villarreal 2-1 at Old Trafford.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner had barely threatened until he fired past Geronimo Rulli for his fifth goal in as many games since returning to United.

Solskjaer's men were staring down the barrel of another embarrassing group stage exit from the Champions League after deservedly falling behind early in the second half to Paco Alcacer's smart finish.

Alex Telles' stunning strike quickly levelled, but they looked set to drop more points in Group F until Ronaldo's late intervention.

"That's what happens at Old Trafford, we had to throw caution to the wind and got lucky in the end," said Solskjaer.

"When you've got Cristiano on the pitch there is always a chance."

Player ratings from the match can be seen in the gallery above, To see the next mark, just swipe.

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Updated: September 30, 2021, 3:42 AM
Manchester UnitedChampions LeagueCristiano Ronaldo