Cristiano Ronaldo showed PSG what they were missing in the Champions League elimination at the hands of Real Madrid to temporarily restore United's place in the top four

Sometimes, football is just way more than what you can do with the ball. There are some situations that put you on the brink, it then depends on how strong is your mental strength, to fend off the negativity that ensue within yourself or among yourselves as a team.

Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United celebrates after scoring their side's second goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on March 12, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

In their Champions League midweek game at the Bernabéu, PSG Paris Saint-Germain went 1-0 up on the night and 2-0 on aggregate after Kylian Mbappé beat Thibaut Courtois to his near post and made it look as though Les Parisiens have the tie won.

They saw the lead through half time and even dominated proceedings, constantly putting the Real Madrid defence under severe pressure and if not for the offside flag, they could have been 3-0 up.

Then Gianluigi Donnaruma’s error gifted Real Madrid a lifeline in the contest, but even then PSG Paris Saint-Germain were still in pole position to qualify at the expense of their host, but after Karim Benzema pounced on that error, the visitors went off thereon.

Whatever happened to the side that enjoyed most of the possession, created the better chances and frustrated life out of the Real Madrid players ? It became evident that winning sometimes is more than how good you are but how willing you are to take it.

After conceding that equaliser, the PSG players failed to impose themselves in the game and that allowed Real Madrid the needed momentum to turn the tie on its head with Luka Modric then starting to life and wrecking havocs.

PSG paraded Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr and Kylian Mbappé amongst other talented players in the ranks, but that did not spur on them as they did could not fend off the negativity after that Benzema’s first goal.

PSG stars, Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr could not do anything as they fell apart at the Bernabéu. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

They ended up conceding two more and on the night at the Bernabéu, one would think the visitors were reduced in numbers as they struggled to keep up with Real in the later stages of the game. Whereas they had been the better side for almost 150 minutes of the tie.

Can they not continue with that they've been doing even though Real Madrid have some of their regulars absent on the night while it was obvious most of them were playing with injuries.

However, the visitors falter when Real were there for the taking, thus highlighting their low mental strength at a very crucial moments.

On the other hand, Cristiano Ronaldo showed them how it is done on Saturday evening when his Manchester United side hosted Tottenham Hotspur at the Old Trafford Stadium. United, on the back of a 4-1 humiliation in the hands of their neighbour,. Manchester City in the previous matchday were looking for a positive result to reassure their fans.

37-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, who was missing in the derby loss gave United the lead in the 12th minute of the game. After his was denied a penalty when his shot striked the arm of Eric Dier earlier on, Ronaldo received the pass from a cheeky pass from Fred and unleashed a stunning strike 25 yards out.

Tottenham Hotspur were presented a chance to restore parity from the spot after Alex Tellex was penalized for a handball in the area, as United players protested the case of their earlier denied penalty.

Harry Kane stepped up to find the back of the net, taking his tally in the league to 11 for this season. But United will not be behind for too long as three minutes later, they were back in front.

Jadon Sancho beat the offside trap on the left flank and sent the ball across to Ronaldo, who took it first time to beat Hugo Lloris in the Spurs’ goal to restore United's lead.

Harry Maguire’s own goal have Tottenham Hotspur back in the game 18 minutes from time but a resilient Ronaldo will have the last say as he rises highest to meet an Alex Tellex corner kick to score the eventual game winning goal.

This is where Cristiano Ronaldo comes ahead of any player. The ability to get going even when set back is suffered. The Portuguese has been consistent in showing great mental strength over the years.

While at Real Madrid, he did this on several occasions, which was the reason Real Madrid enjoyed so many success in Europe during his time in the Spanish capital. The same happened during his spell with Juventus.

Although there were questions marks on how well he can do it now as he is 37. But it is obvious he still has it in his arsenal. He was there for the club in the champions league group campaign, which United faithfuls will be convinced that they might as well had missed out on round of 16 qualification without the former Sporting CP teenager.

Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on March 12, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)

Even if Ronaldo is not the pacey and skillful player he was know to be, and can not score as many goals as he used to score, he can still score the important ones and this has been evidence even since his return to the club he left in the summer of 2009.

This [mental strength] that Ronaldo has in abundance is what PSG stars don't have even if there is no denying of their prowess, but it ended up being useless as they lost their heads in the most wrong moment of the tie.

Manchester United however will hope Cristiano Ronaldo can repeat this impressive performance in the midweek when they host Atletico Madrid in the return leg of their Champions League round of 16 meeting.

It ended 1-1 at the Wanda Metropolitano weeks ago and United will have to win to secure a place in the quarters. Knowing Ronaldo's history with Atletico Madrid, it will not be a surprise if he is the one who ended up being United’s hero on Tuesday night.

Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi