Man United were once again saved at the death on Wednesday night against Villarreal on Wednesday night - but many of their fans were raging that match-winner Cristiano Ronaldo hadn't been substituted before the end of the game.
It's the latest example of frustrations boiling over at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's in-game management.
Man United fans couldn't believe Ronaldo wasn't subbed off
Man United were - to quote many pundits, including Richard Dunne - "not good enough" on Wednesday night. They struggled for large spells of the game to break down the Villarreal defence and, when Paco Alcacer gave the Yellow Submarine the lead just after half-time, it looked like another nightmare was on the cards for United.
Alex Telles got them back in the game with a stunning volley on the hour mark, but Man United continued to struggle to break down the Spanish side.
Not a bad way to score your first goal for your club.
| Watch every #UCL game for free on the LiveScore app here: https://t.co/C6kvs0e7Vd #morethanascorepic.twitter.com/QyJVqcVLIj— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) September 29, 2021
It was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's substitutions that had Man United fans baffled - namely how Cristiano Ronaldo remained on the pitch despite an anonymous performance. Jadon Sancho, Mason Greenwood, and Paul Pogba were both withdrawn before the Portuguese striker - who was even moved out of position to the wing when Edinson Cavani entered the fray.
Man United fans were shocked to see Ronaldo remain on the pitch entering the last twenty minutes, with many taking to Twitter to express their dismay.
Ronaldo terrible today..
— Cristiano Ronaldo News (@CRonaldoNews) September 29, 2021
we are just going to rely on ronaldo innit
— brian 👹 (@brnlncgllr) September 29, 2021
Ole has made 4 subs. Bruno looks tired. Ronaldo looks tired. But Van De Beek not on? Donny, if I was you I would hand in transfer request for the good of your career #MUNVIL
— Andrew Yee (@AndrewYee2) September 29, 2021
Ronaldo is doing a Fred on it tonight. He's shit.
— David Mc Namara (@maca737) September 29, 2021
Ronaldo's is offering genuinely nothing when United aren't in the final third and constantly dropping off into other players' spaces in search for the ball. And because it's Ronaldo, Ole won't even sub him when he's visibly having an off day
— Aaron Moniz (@amonizfootball) September 29, 2021
The fact he kept on Ronaldo is inexcusable don’t care who he is
— StephenUTD (@StephenMUFC4) September 29, 2021
Why the fuck has he kept Ronaldo on? He’s 36 and ducking limping
— m (@IceColdToto) September 29, 2021
Most of those fans were fairly silent come the final whistle, however, as Ronaldo popped up with his fifth goal since returning to Manchester in injury time to give United a dramatic (and undeserved) victory.
Despite the fact that it was two of Solskjaer's subs - Fred and Jesse Lingard - who combined to set up the goal, questions will surely be asked once again of the Norwegian. Having lost three of their previous four games, Man United and their manager Solskjaer were under intense scrutiny ahead of Wednesday's game, and their performance did nothing to answer those questions.
CR7 does it again for United! 😍
Ice in his veins...#UCL pic.twitter.com/TfDWGxCGr1— BT Sport (@btsport) September 29, 2021
Regardless of Man United fans' dismay, a late smash-and-grab once again got the job done on Wednesday night - how long that will be enough for Ronaldo and Solskjaer remains to be seen.
SEE ALSO: Richard Dunne Has Questions About The Chelsea Hype
