Cristiano Ronaldo was spotted gesturing angrily in the direction of his Manchester United team-mates after Andros Townsend’s goal for Everton on Saturday afternoon. The mercurial 36-year-old was benched by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for the match at Old Trafford, with the Red Devils ultimately failing to take all three points against Rafa Benitez’s side.
United took the lead shortly before half-time through Anthony Martial, who finished off a good team move with a deflected effort that left Jordan Pickford unable to claw the ball away.
However, they were pegged back with 25 minutes remaining when Townsend equalised at the end of a rapid counter-attack for Everton.
Ronaldo had only just entered the pitch after replacing Edinson Cavani on the hour mark and wasted no time in berating his team-mates as Townsend wheeled off in celebration.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner was clearly frustrated as he marched back into his own half, gesturing at his United colleagues in the process.
Townsend’s goal came from a United corner, with Demarai Gray bursting up the field for Everton after taking the ball from Fred.
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He was allowed to race towards the United goal before finding Abdoulaye Doucoure, who cut back for Townsend to sweep the ball home.
Former United defender Rio Ferdinand suggested after the match that Ronaldo was unhappy with the failure of his team-mates to stop Everton’s attack with a tactical foul.
“Man United at that time, Cristiano says take him early in the play,” Ferdinand told BT Sport.
“The foreign teams are cute in those positions and counter-attacks with cheeky fouls would’ve stopped and prevented that.
“You can see him there, telling them: ‘Take him out, smash him!’.”
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Saturday’s game marked the first occasion that Ronaldo had not started a match for United since returning to the club at the end of August.
Express Sport understands that the forward was left enraged by Solskjaer’s decision to name him as a substitute.
The United boss explained his thought process before kick-off, insisting that he was looking to freshen things up after their high-intensity clash with Villarreal in midweek.
“Wednesday night was a big effort, a big emotional and physical output,” said Solskjaer.
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“So we needed to freshen it up. When it’s an early kick off the start of this game is going to be important and we’ve got some very good players coming on as well.
“It’s a team we think is going to take charge of the game.”
It remains to be seen whether Ronaldo will return to United’s starting side for the trip to Leicester City after the international break.
The Red Devils will then face Atalanta in the Champions League three days later as they look to build on their recent win over Villarreal with another three points in the competition.
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