Erik ten Hag sends message to Cristiano Ronaldo after Manchester United goal vs Everton

Erik ten Hag congratulated Cristiano Ronaldo on his 700th club goal that decided Manchester United's 2-1 win at Everton.

Ronaldo emerged in the 29th minute for the injured Anthony Martial and rifled in his first United goal from open play since April to secure victory at Goodison Park.

"That is really impressive, when you score 700 goals," Ten Hag beamed. "It's a huge performance, I'm really happy for him. I congratulate him on that performance and I'm also happy it's his first goal this season in the Premier League - he had to wait for it and I'm sure there will be more goals.

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"I think every player needs it, even when you are the best in the world, you need it, you need the goals.

"And I worked with many goalscorers, especially them, they need goals in every season to have that feeling, to have the confirmation of the intuition. And once they have some goals, they come in the flow and games go easier. That will happen with him as well."

United have recovered from their 6-3 humbling at City with two away wins in Europe and the Premier League, returning to fifth in the domestic table.

Everton led United through Alex Iwobi's fifth-minute curler but Antony equalised 10 minutes later for his third goal in as many league games before Ronaldo struck in the 44th minute.

United are only a point behind fourth-placed Chelsea and travel to Stamford Bridge on October 22, with third-placed Tottenham due at Old Trafford three days earlier.

"First of all, criticism is normal when you have a defeat, especially in a big game, in a derby," Ten Hag reflected, "so we have to deal with that and you learn lessons.

"We did that, we responded well, already on Thursday.