While Cristiano Ronaldo fans will be reminiscing on former glory days after the striker brought up his 700th club career goal against Everton, Erik ten Hag may be looking to the future.
The 2-1 victory over the Toffees, courtesy of the Portugal superstar’s winner, sees Manchester United just a point away from the top four. Champions League qualification is their ultimate goal this season and the hope is for that to become a yearly achievement under Ten Hag going forward.
In order for this to happen, the club needs consistency at the top end of the pitch. Anthony Martial picked up his third injury in as many months at Goodison Park on Sunday.
READ MORE: Manchester United give Anthony Martial injury update
He was in discomfort during the warm-up and his first start of the season lasted only 29 minutes before being replaced by Ronaldo. The Frenchman has failed to see out a full match for the Reds in more than a year now.
Luckily last night, Ronaldo was on hand to grab his second goal of the season. Given his career achievements, he is United's ultimate wildcard.
He fulfilled that role against Everton and is likely to start against Omonia in Thursday’s Europa League bout at Old Trafford. Should Martial not be fit, given Marcus Rashford’s form on the left wing, Ronaldo could make his second Premier League start against Newcastle on Sunday too.
However, the 37-year-old will almost certainly not be at United for much longer. Ten Hag must find a long-term striker if United are to make the top four their regular home again.
Martial’s injury record evidences that he is not the man to take United forward into this realm while Rashford’s form peaks and troughs, and he prefers the flank anyway. The wildcard that is Ronaldo will likely be gone this time next year and therefore so will his clinical goal-getting.
United’s summer transfer task is getting clearer by the week and the visit to Everton only highlighted the issue further.
READ NEXT:
