Cristiano Ronaldo magic saves Manchester United on toxic day at Old Trafford

Cristiano Ronaldo’s 60^th career hat-trick rescued Manchester United from another embarrassing afternoon on what was an already toxic day as the Red Devils beat Norwich City 3-2 at Old Trafford. 

Ronaldo had already spared his side’s blushes with a hat-trick against Tottenham Hotspur last month, this his second in three Premier League games, but arguably this was more important not only for matters on the field but off it too.

United are still chasing European qualification this season, whichever form it may come on, but at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon the deep-rooted issues of the club came to the fore with protests against the Glazer ownership.

Midfielder Paul Pogba was also booed off the field when he was substituted midway through the second half, cupping his ears to a group of supporters as he walked down the tunnel come full-time.

To put it frankly, had Ronaldo not hammered home a trademark free-kick late in the day to seal the third-Red Devils treble of his own career and the three points, an already toxic day could’ve been much, much worse in M16.

On the pitch, with many United fans still protesting outside the ground, things started swimmingly for Rangnick’s side when Ronaldo tapped home into an empty net to give them the lead after just seven minutes.

Norwich defender Ben Gibson had a nightmare at the back, having his pocket picked by Anthony Elanga who squared for Ronaldo to grab his first.

The hosts were well on top as Jadon Sancho and Jesse Lingard saw efforts saved by Tim Krul and by the time Ronaldo headed his second in from Alex Telles’ corner on 32 minutes, the anti-ownership shouts had become louder as those outside flooded in.

Gibson was also at fault for the second, letting Ronaldo get the run on him as his boss Dean Smith admitted post-match.

‘If you hate Glazers, stand up’ rung around Old Trafford immediately after the goal, and in the final quarter of the first half it started to go oh so wrong for United.

Pierre Lees-Melou took advantage of the fact that they didn’t have a holding midfielder playing to surge forward and take aim. That effort was blocked away but as the board for added time went up, Teemu Pukki crossed for Kieran Dowell to halve the deficit.

At the restart, it would get even worse with it looking like United who were the team in a relegation battle.

Finnish striker Pukki finished well on 53 minutes having been slipped through on goal, in off the post, with Pogba hauled off by Rangnick ten minutes later to a chorus of discontent from his own fans.

‘You’re not fit to wear the shirt’ then rang out from the Stretford End as Dowell audaciously tried to lob David De Gea, a sign of how the game had flipped on its head.

Only a last-gasp block from Diogo Dalot denied Milot Rashica before a clumsy challenge at the other end saw the Canaries throw all of their good work away.

Trademark, like a postage stamp, the Portuguese international approached and rifled into the back of the net though Krul will probably feel he could’ve done better to keep it out.

As he had done twice already, Ronaldo raced to the corner flag and hit his ‘SIUU’ celebration, which was the only time the fans seemed to be united with no pun intended.

Over 71,000 Red Devils fans witnessed greatness from their number seven oncemore, and they’re right back in the race for the Champions League now, but it’s done little to change the anger felt by most of them towards the club at the moment.

They now face Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday night while Norwich’s survival bid continues at home to Newcastle United in a week’s time.

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