CRISTIANO RONALDO was the key to Manchester United’s win at Tottenham on Saturday, according to Gary Neville.
But the former right-back insists Ole Gunnar Solskjaer still ‘cannot trust his players’.
In their first match since the 5-0 drubbing by Liverpool, United put in a far better performance and were rarely threatened by a poor Spurs side.
Ronaldo, 36, opened the scoring with a fine volley just before half-time then he set up Edinson Cavani and Marcus Rashford completed the scoring.
And Neville was full of praise for five-time Ballon d’Or winner – highlighting his impact on the game.
He told Sky Sports: “Raphael Varane has made a massive difference at the back. You can talk about the change in system but he’s brought massive composure to that back three.
“Cavani? You see his face when he scored the goal. He’s got a massive personality and character that the team lack when he doesn’t play.
“He fights for every single ball, he’s hungry, chases things down. He’s demanding.
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“But the man who won Manchester United this match is Cristiano Ronaldo.
“That finish was incredible and then that bit of composure when the game was frantic and on a knife-edge.
“I watched Ronaldo at the back post and his movement is special. That shuffle to the left to get onside, then the movement in behind.
“The pass is perfect. Can he finish? It’s wonderful from Cristiano Ronaldo. A special goal. There’s only one place he can put it.
“It’s a brilliant goal. We talked about the impact on Bruno of Ronaldo but they’ve connected there.”
Solskjaer switched to a back five with Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw either side of Varane, Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire.
That allowed a midfield pairing of Scott McTominay and Fred with Bruno Fernandes behind Ronaldo and Cavani.
‘CAN’T TRUST THEM’
And while Neville was pleased to see Ronaldo given a strike partner, he reckoned the formation was ‘the last throw of the dice’ and a strong indicator of how Solskjaer feels about his team.
Neville added: “This is one of the most defensive Man Utd teams I think I’ve ever seen.
“It’s a poor reflection on the more talented players in the squad that he can’t trust them to do the work without the ball.
“We’ve said for weeks and months that this United team play in moments but you’ve got to have a good foundation of clean sheets and good defending.
“Ronaldo has to have a partner. He has to have someone up there with him. This system allows that.”
“Those three up front will always create chances and score goals but they need that base to work from.
“Most importantly, they’ve looked like a team out of possession. He’s got them compact and tight and there’s been an intensity. They’ve counter-attacked off that and produced the moments we know they can produce.
“It gives Manchester United and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a little bit of breathing space before the Champions League game.”
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