Cristiano Ronaldo lost vs Man United for the first time with Juventus and was not convinced by the Champions League performance from Jose Mourinho’s team. Cristiano Ronaldo believes Manchester United did little to earn their stunning Champions League victory against Juventus on Wednesday night. Juan Mata’s 86th minute and an own goal from Alex Sandro three minutes later sealed a 2-1 triumph for Jose Mourinho’s side after Ronaldo gave Juve a deserved lead with a 66th minute volley. Juventus hit the woodwork twice, David de Gea brilliantly denied Juan Cuadrado and Miralem Pjanic either side of the interval and Cuadrado wasted a gilt-edged chance with Juve ahead as the Italian champions were left to rue their profligacy.
Both of United’s goals came from set-pieces as they became the first English club to win at Juventus’ Allianz Stadium, which the Bianconeri moved into in 2011. United also remain the only English side to have beaten Juve in Turin this century, having triumphed 3-0 at the Stadio delle Alpi in 2003. Ronaldo, who opted for a muted celebration when he scored twice against United for Real Madrid in 2013, savoured his first Champions League strike for his new club but suggested United resembled a typical English team with their reliance on set-pieces. “I was happy for the goal but I am a little bit disappointed,” Ronaldo told Viasport. “We should’ve won the game easily. Three, four goals. And Manchester didn’t do much, in my opinion. “They create two chances, set-pieces, they know the English teams, they are always looking for the set-pieces but we will learn from our mistakes and we are still top of the group.”
Juve are at the summit of Group H on 9 points, United are second on seven and Valencia are third with five points. If United beat Young Boys at Old Trafford and Juve prevail over Valencia at home in three weeks’ time then both teams will qualify with a game to spare.
