Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice on his return as Manchester United cruised to victory against Newcastle United and delighted a packed and loud Old Trafford.
United fans have been buzzing for over a week now about the return of Ronaldo and he was cheered from the moment he left the team coach on its arrival at the ground, throughout the warm-up and then once the game had started.
Being the showman that he is, Ronaldo repaid the adoration of the United fans in the best possible manner when he broke the deadlock in first-half added time when he tapped in after visiting keeper Freddie Woodman spilled Mason Greenwood’s shot.
Then, after Javier Manquillo had levelled with his first Newcastle goal, Ronaldo finished off a flowing move by racing on to Luke Shaw’s through ball and drilling a low shot through Woodman’s legs.
His international team-mate Bruno Fernandes rifled in the goal of the game as he collected Paul Pogba’s square pass and curled a shot into the top corner from the edge of the area before substitute Jesse Lingard added a fourth in added time.
Afterwards, the man of the day admitted that was “super nervous” before the match.
“I didn’t expect to score two goals,” Ronaldo said.
“I expected one but not two. It was an unbelievable moment.”
“It is unbelievable. When I started the game I was so nervous, I swear,” he said. “I did not expect that they would sing my name all game. The reception is incredible but I am here to win games and help the team.
“It was an unbelievable moment. I was super nervous and was thinking last night that I wanted to play good and show I was still capable of helping the team. This club is unbelievable and I am so proud. I am going to give everything to make them proud of me.
“Everyone knows the football in England is different than in any part of the world and to be honest it is the most special one. I arrived here at 18 and they treated my unbelievably and that is why I am back.”
