Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo (right) scores against Atalanta on Tuesday in Bergamo, Italy. Photo: VCG

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took Manchester United in to a must-win game last weekend and the end result saw his rival Nuno Espirito Santo let go by Tottenham Hotspur.

There is still plenty for the Norwegian to decide as the 20-time champions of England look to win a first title since former manager Alex Ferguson left in 2013 but there are shoots of hopes for United fans after a 3-0 win away at Spurs.

"We knew before the game that we had a tough week after a result that we didn't expect," Ronaldo told Sky Sports.

"The team was a little bit under pressure, a little bit sad, but we knew we could give a good answer.

"We played good, started well. Of course my job is to help the team with my experience, my goals, my assists and I did that and I feel so pleased.

"In terms of the team, it was an unbelievable performance."

Ronaldo, who scored a superb volley before setting up Edinson Cavani in the second half, said he was delighted the team could snap a poor run of four games without victory.

"The criticisms are always there," the Portugal striker said.

"It doesn't bother me because I have played 18 years of football, so I know that one day people will say 'we're perfect' and another day they will say 'we're crap.'

"I know that and we have to deal with that, but it's always better when the people praise you and they are happy with you.

"Sometimes life is like that, sometimes we have to pass through bad moments and we have to change and we changed today."

One of the main differences was the decision by Solskjaer to play both Ronaldo and Uruguay striker Cavani up front.

Ronaldo scored the opener and then played the former Palermo and PSG striker in for the second goal.

The Norwegian seemed vindicated after the win.

"I've been here three years and Tuesday's training session from Edinson Cavani is probably the best anyone has put in here," Solskjaer said after the win in North London.

"They play well together. They have loads of respect for each other. We've got loads of talented players and to learn form those two, they have to learn as quick as they can, because the workrate and quality that these two put in are second to none."

"The experience of Edinson Cavani and Cristiano is massive," Solskjaer continued. "We need it. We can't hide. The week has been difficult for the players. They really stuck at it. Experience counts in situations like this."

"We've got players like Cristiano and Edinson on the pitch together and that's two players that you want in the box together, so we need to provide them with crosses."

The future for Manchester United involved the 2-2 draw away to Atalanta in the UEFA Champions League in midweek, where Ronaldo twice equalized.

That draw helps United's chances of reaching the knockout stage ahead of several must-win games as the club looks for a first trophy under the Norwegian.

This weekend brings the first Manchester derby of the season against Manchester City, as the club welcome Pep Guardiola's champions to Old Trafford. Will Solskjaer play Ronaldo and Cavani against City?

Former Manchester United player turned pundit Gary Neville was among those impressed by the Ronaldo-Cavani combination, with the combined 70-year-olds making their first start of the season together.

"You just watch him pull off Ben Davies - his movement here is special. That little bit of a shuffle to the left-hand side to get onside. Then the movement in behind," Neville said of Ronaldo's opener.

"The pass is perfect and then you're asking yourself can he finish and it is absolutely wonderful from Cristiano Ronaldo, that is a special goal.

"Only one place he can put it and could he have saved his [Solskjaer's] life. It's a brilliant goal. You talk about the impact of [Bruno] Fernandes and Ronaldo and they've connected there."

Neville was dismissive of Spurs as he waxed lyrical over United's second against Spurs, which saw Ronaldo feed Cavani.

"There was no quality, was composure but we've just seen it. Bruno robs [Oliver] Skipp in the middle of the field and then it's all about this strike partnership. That little Cruyff past Skipp [from Ronaldo] and that pass, that run and that finish - world-class. We've seen two really special goals from Manchester United," Neville said on Sky Sports.

"He's deserved that goal, Cavani, but he can owe it to his teammate and strike partner Cristiano Ronaldo because that pass there is absolutely wonderful and he just dinks it over Lloris.

"We've said for a number of weeks and months that this Manchester ­United team play in moments but you've got to have a foundation of clean sheets and good defending and for 66 minutes they've had that. They need that base to work from. What a pass, what a finish.

"He's done his job incredibly well, that is really special [his first goal]. The technique, he makes everything look absolutely wonderful when he does it. The work to get Cavani in was fantastic.

 "The Cruyff-turn on the counter and the composure when the game was frantic he slowed it down and played a magical pass into Cavani."

The elder statesmen of Manchester United's attackers playing together means that Solskjaer can not pick Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood and Jadon Sancho, their pricey signing from Borussia Dortmund.

There is still a long way to go for a side that was meant to challenge for the English Premier League title this season - and the first test of this supposed new era is against their city rivals at the weekend.

A week ago the Norwegian was ready to be sacked following a 5-0 defeat to longtime rivals Liverpool but the Spurs win has handed Solskjaer a reprieve, which some say is ill deserved.