His leap and timing were perfect – Harry Maquire on Cristiano Ronaldo’s match-winning goal against Atalanta

Manchester United center-back Harry Maquire has heaped praise on Cristiano Ronaldo. The talisman striker once again scored the match-winning goal for the Red Devils at Old Trafford on Wednesday. The hosts conceded two goals in the first half against the Italian club and looked out of sorts.

However, United bounced back through Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire’s goal in the second half. Ronaldo once again scored the match-winning goal for the club as he headed the ball in the net in the 81st minute to give the decisive lead to his team. Maquire who was right behind Ronaldo noted that the leap and timing of the header were perfect from the team’s no.7.

“I had eyes on it all the way. I was right behind him. His leap, his timing, it was perfect right in the corner.”We see it day in, day out in training and in the goals he has scored throughout his career. He has come up with a massive goal for us again in the Champions League,” the center-back was quoted as saying after the end of the game.

On the other hand, United was once again exposed in their defense as they conceded two goals in the first half. United haven’t been at their best in the recent past and they will certainly need to pull up their socks.

“We definitely do like doing it the hard way in the Champions League. In the first half, we conceded two bad goals – the quick free-kick for the first and the set play we shouldn’t be conceding from.

“The last few games we’ve conceded a lot from set-plays, I think that’s four in the last four games so we need to sharpen up on that. That [conceding from set-pieces] is not good enough for this club. We’re working on the formula to be a lot more solid but it’s about winning football matches.”

We’ve shown great togetherness in the dressing room at half-time after the fans cheered and clapped us off, we gave them the result and the energy that they deserved.”

Manchester United would have received a shot in the arm after winning against Atalanta and are now at the top of the group. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men will face Liverpool in a big Premier League clash on Sunday.