Solskjær’s great entertainers thrill Old Trafford but lack grander purpose | John Brewin

United are back to the mid-80s, looking to cup competitions for glory while trailing in the wake of better organised clubs

Another act of escapology, more questions of Manchester United’s identity. A Cristiano Ronaldo winner on Wednesday night to complete a 3-2 comeback against Atalanta in the classic style to the sound of fans exalting their manager. These are the things the Theatre of Dreams was made of.

But there comes a time when a plot twist becomes so habitual as to become pulp fiction, particularly when preceded by turgid sludge served by United in the first half. Are late winners against Atalanta and Villarreal, fun as they might be, anything but an imitation of the grander deeds of the 1990s and 2000s, a weak reboot of a previously all-conquering franchise?

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