After a catastrophic start to the season, Manchester United managed to turn things around for the time being: With their third win in a row, Cristiano Ronaldo's team is back in business. However, the superstar, who failed to make it into the Champions League, is of little help.
After two defeats at the start of the season, Manchester United managed the turnaround on the fifth day of the Premier League. The English record champions celebrated their third league win in a row with a 1-0 (1-0) win at Leicester City, moved past arch-rivals Liverpool FC around team manager Jürgen Klopp in the table and is within striking distance of the Champions League ranks with nine points .
Without the 90 million last-minute signing Antony, who was not in coach Erik ten Haag's squad, and the superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who was willing to change and who only took a seat on the substitutes' bench again at the beginning, former BVB professional Jadon Sancho ( 23.) brought the Red Devils into the lead with his second goal of the season.
Leicester tried to respond, but apart from a free-kick shot by set-piece specialist James Maddison (51st), mostly remained too harmless. The next endurance test awaits the ten Haag team on Sunday when the sovereign leaders FC Arsenal travel to Old Trafford for the top game. "Saturday against Arsenal is a real test for us. We have to be good, we know that. It's a good test to see where we stand," said ten Haag, looking forward to the next assessment.
Cristiano Ronaldo came on for the scorer Sancho in the 68th minute. The 37-year-old actually wanted to leave United in the summer to still play in the Champions League. But this did not happen. Ronaldo was substituted on for the fourth time in his fifth league appearance this season. "We need a good squad and we need consistently good performances," said ten Haag, who had resisted a change in his most prominent player. "There are a lot of games to play. When Cristiano Ronaldo and Casemiro are fit it will be even better - we don't just need a team, we need a squad." The challenges on the international stage are Real Sociedad San Sebastian, Sheriff Tiraspol and Omonia Nicosia in the Europa League.
Ronaldo, who has won the Champions League five times with Real Madrid, has ended an impressive streak with his stay in Manchester. Now, despite intensive efforts, he is still missing the leap to a Champions League club. Big clubs like Bayern Munich, PSG, Real Madrid had kindly waved them off.
