Lindelof: I’m proud of the guys

A tough period for the side has been particularly intense over recent days following Saturday’s defeat at Watford and the departure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but the Reds showed character to bounce back just a few days on and register an important win in Spain.

The 2-0 scoreline at the end of a hard-fought encounter ensures our passage into the knockout stage of this season’s Champions League with a game to go, and the result elsewhere in Group F since means that the triumph’s reward has added significance too. 

Atalanta’s 3-3 draw with Young Boys ensures no side can overtake us in top spot on matchday six next month, confirming United as group winners. 

Lindelof gave an insight into the players' mindset after the victory during a post-match interview with MUTV’s Stewart Gardner. 

“It’s been a tough couple of weeks and a tough couple of days, but we came here with the desire to win the game and go through to the next round, and we managed to do that,” our no.2 says. 

“I’m very proud of the guys today and, of course, very happy that we’re through as well.”

Perhaps just as significant as the three points was a long-awaited clean sheet for the Swede and his team-mates. 

It was a timely fixture to record just our second shut-out of the season so far, and our first since August across all competitions, something Lindelof is keen to become the springboard for more going forward.

“We haven’t kept a clean sheet in a long time so, for us as a team, it’s an amazing feeling. We can build on that,” he insists. 

“Like I always say, if we keep a clean sheet, we have guys up front that can score goals for us and that’s exactly what happened today.”

At the other end, it was Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho who ensured we took that clean sheet and turned it into three points, with both forwards on the mark late on. 

Victor expressed his delight at the goals, and in particular his happiness for Sancho, after our no.25 capped off an impressive individual performance with his first goal for the club.

“I’m very, very happy for Jadon," he enthused.

“He’s been putting in the work and to see him perform the way he did today, and to top that off with a goal, is amazing. I’m very happy for him.”