Mason Greenwood being dropped for Manchester United’s last Premier League game did not come as a surprise.
United called on Edinson Cavani to come in and steady the frontline, and he showed the way how to effectively link up with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Greenwood and Ronaldo’s failure to gel was one of the reasons United’s attack had not been clicking in recent games leading up to the Spurs win.
Amid the fallout from the Liverpool result, a lack of spark between the pair was cited in multiple outlets.
ESPN reported: “Teammates have noticed that the pair rarely pass to each other in attacking positions and that Ronaldo is becoming visibly irritated by his young teammate’s decision to shoot rather than pass in goal-scoring positions.”
In eight matches together the pair failed to combine for a single goal.
In the home leg against Atalanta Ronaldo was seen gesticulating frantically at Greenwood to get into the box when he picked the ball up out wide, with the youngster too slow to react.
So with pressure beginning to build, it probably did Greenwood a little good being left out against Tottenham.
A moment which can change everything
It was the perfect tonic for Greenwood to tee up Ronaldo for his late goal against Atalanta.
In doing so Greenwood will have proven to his teammates, manager, and Ronaldo himself, that he can link up with the number 7 effectively.
Greenwood has great self belief. But at times early in the season it has bordered on stubbornnes, a desperation to try and outshine Ronaldo and show he can better him.
He does not need to do that. Ronaldo is one of the greatest players in history, and there’s nothing wrong with deferring to him. This is Ronaldo’s team now.
For the pair to combine so effectively for a vital injury time goal will build trust between the pair, and wash away what has happened beforehand.
While Greenwood still has to compete with Marcus Rashford and Edinson Cavani for starting places, and Jadon Sancho if the team go with a 4-2-3-1, he has given himself a better chance of starting games with this contribution.
Greenwood and Ronaldo are too good not to link up effectively. They showed that last night.
The youngster showed fantastic composure in a frenetic moment to tee up the ball for Ronaldo to volley in.
This goal has the potential to be a real turning point for their partnership, and for Manchester United.
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