How are we all doing, Manchester United fans? Still alive and kicking after that one?
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is a man under pressure, and there could probably have been no worse fixture than welcoming the ultimate underdog, and secretly deadly, Atalanta to Old Trafford on Wednesday. A victory was essential, no matter how it came.
... With that in mind, let's have a look back at how the evening unfolded, as the Red Devils somehow escaped with a 3-2 win, and their Norwegian boss was able to smile and stick that thumb in the air once more.
The night got off to a bad start, as Man Utd fell behind to Atalanta - well, Atalanta's B team, given the amount of injuries to key players. A well-worked Mario Pasalic goal put the visitors ahead, and sent Twitter falling off its collective chair with laughter.
The worst possible start for Man Utd...
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 20, 2021
Caught napping for a quick free-kick and Mario Pasalic taps in for Atalanta inside 15 minutes ?#UCL pic.twitter.com/Py95E8XARC
The Red Army singing ‘Ole’s at the wheel’ over and over. pic.twitter.com/N7l3Or1kXv
— Andy Mitten (@AndyMitten) October 20, 2021
Ole's at the wheel pic.twitter.com/GauPlfXBjW
— Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) October 20, 2021
Relax. Ole’s at the wheel. He’ll figure it out
— Nigel de Jong (@NDJ_Official) October 20, 2021
Immediately, fingers began to be pointed, with plenty landing on the six-packed figure of Cristiano Ronaldo, and the negative 'vibez' he's carried since the goals dried up.
Cristiano Ronaldo playing in the Europa League for the first time in his career this season with Man Utd: pic.twitter.com/mSbufdXF5w
— Footy Humour (@FootyHumour) October 20, 2021
If Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gets the sack then that’ll mean the last 4 managers who’ve managed Cristiano Ronaldo at club level have all been sacked.
— Jack Gallagher (@calciolovesjack) October 20, 2021
But he’s not a problem, right? pic.twitter.com/ADt9U8Em7q
We didn't have time to pick ourselves up off the floor before Atalanta added a second! Right then, it looked to be curtains for Solskjaer, and Twitter was already planning the path for his successor.
Solskjaer gets sacked, Steve Bruce comes in, does alright as interim and then gets in permanently, does so-so for two years while #OleOut trends throughout before the cycle repeats and Laurent Blanc gets it
— Jude Summerfield (@judesummerfield) October 20, 2021
Next: Steve Bruce to Man Utd? Safe pair of hands to steady the ship. Has managed 1000 games ?
— Spion Kop (@TheKopHQ) October 20, 2021
Steve Bruce to Man Utd then? #bbcfootball pic.twitter.com/nomdNUt2hI
— Attack Of The Killer TOMatoes (@MajorTomCom) October 20, 2021
Some had been hoping for a bigger name to follow the Norwegian...
Bring me Conte pic.twitter.com/DnUEgfuLgm
— Mr 1-5 (@MIKassim) October 20, 2021
Who would you rather have
— ?? ™??????? (@UtdTC_) October 18, 2021
❤️ for Conte
RT for Zidane pic.twitter.com/QWrW93OMCe
Although as for Antonio Conte, others already predicted disaster.
Antonio Conte when he see’s wan bissaka trying to play rwb pic.twitter.com/ZW1EY15txE
— . (@Utd_Zain) October 20, 2021
But just when supporters had started dreaming of a life after Solskjaer, and were already imagining the social media output of their stars...
“Not the result we wanted but we will fight until the end always. We must focus on the big game on Sunday. Thank you for the support.”
— Scott Saunders (@_scottsaunders) October 20, 2021
Man Utd woke up. Marcus Rashford kicked off the scoring, Harry Maguire pulled the Red Devils level, and that set the stage for one man to steal all the headlines. Now, who could that be?
— Matthew Cockerton (@mattcockerton) October 20, 2021
Oh yeah, that guy. Ronaldo completed the comeback, saving Solskjaer's skin and keeping Man Utd's Champions League hopes alive for another week. Never in doubt.
Cristiano Ronaldo drops to his knees in celebration at full time ? pic.twitter.com/X3CqQsNwXK
— UtdDistrict (@UtdDistrict) October 20, 2021
Cristiano Ronaldo’s game by numbers vs. Atalanta:
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) October 20, 2021
8 touches inside the oppo. box
7 shots [4 on target]
3 chances created
2 clearances
2 fouls won
1 big chance
1 goal
Clutch. ?? pic.twitter.com/9KxBEsdEgB
Ronaldo ran his socks off, he really didn’t want to play in the Europa League ?
— TC (@totalcristiano) October 20, 2021
Just give the interim job to him, guys. Oh wait, you mean Ole isn't going to be fired now?
United fans celebrating the Ronaldo goal then realising Ole will get a new 5-year contract pic.twitter.com/DePsLm1Ujl
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) October 20, 2021
It's never boring in Manchester.
Source : 90min