When he returned to Manchester United after a two-year absence, Cristiano Ronaldo was able to sum up his whole time there in his last two appearances.

In terms of performance, he was outstanding on Saturday. This season, Manchester United fans have been yearning for a player with his 'never say die' mindset to come along and score a hat trick against Tottenham Hotspur.

The other side of Ronaldo was seen just three days later, when United and the Portuguese superstar were knocked out of the Champions League as a result of a lack of chances produced and the inability to conjure up that perfect moment. Despite the fact that United have superior individuals than Atletico Madrid and Tottenham, the disparity in performance between the two teams was evident. Ronaldo is only able to save the Reds on specific instances at this point.

It's becoming more and more obvious that Manchester United need more than simply Cristiano Ronaldo as he nears the conclusion of his career at 37. When Cristiano Ronaldo donned the Real Madrid jersey, it appeared as though the team had this figured out.

Mauricio Pochettino was asked to provide a preview of the La Liga side before of Tottenham's Champions League match against them back in 2017. In this single excerpt, he demonstrated exactly where Manchester United has fallen short this season.

Pochettino, as quoted by FourFourTwo, said: "He's a crucial part of the team, but they have many others who are also impressive. They have a fantastic group, and they are led by a very capable manager. They're a terrific club, but in order to win trophies, you need contributions from the entire group to be successful."

You can tell when you see United play this season that their players are just waiting for the next flash of brilliance from the forward to come along. Atletico Madrid, Middlesbrough, Southampton, and other teams have all fallen short when they have not received it.

Ronaldo's success has come as a result of his teammates, not as a result of his own efforts. At the Bernabeu, players such as Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric, and Karim Benzema contributed to a strong core that has led to tremendous success for the club over the course of many years.

The Theatre of Dreams, on the other hand, does not have such a strong core. It is commonly assumed that United would seek to sell their entire squad in the summer in preparation for the arrival of a new manager - possibly Mauricio Pochettino - but if the squad does not come together, titles will not return.

A lot of United's games have felt like they were played by individuals. The blueprint for success is in place; all that needs to be done now is to build a strong team around it.
Although the purchase of Cristiano Ronaldo was a disappointment, the club's leading striker has shown flashes of brilliance in specific situations. United, on the other hand, will require more than just a few moments to reclaim their place at the top of the league.