COMMENT: It wasn't done the way he wanted. Nor with the team he had long planned to put together. But in the end, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer found a way for Manchester United to win at Tottenham on Saturday...

Solskjaer doesn't want to play with five at the back. He also doesn't want a wingless midfield. But needs must. And with so much on the line, the United manager chose to nail everything down. A fit-again Raphael Varane made it three centre-halves in a row of five across the defence. Paul Pogba's suspension led to a very central midfield three of Scott McTominay and Fred providing a base from which Bruno Fernandes could launch from. And in attack, at a combined age of 70, Solskjaer paired together Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani.

This wasn't the ideal for Solskjaer. This isn't the Way of United. But with a season already at a crossroads. With his job on the line. Solskjaer's biggest gamble was to go with know-how and consistency.

"It was the oldest team I've picked for Manchester United," Solskjaer would declare in the aftermath, "and it was time for it."

"Time" due to the pressure brought on by the home defeat to Liverpool? Or was it a case of "time" running out for his young players and the trust Solskjaer had shown them so far this season?

Again, amongst his reaction after this 3-0 win, Solskjaer admitted Cavani had won his start by sheer training ground form. He didn't say it openly, but there's little need to read between the lines. Solskjaer all but conceding that he'd been holding back Cavani as he gave his young attackers Mason Greenwood and Jadon Sancho the chance to establish themselves. But it has to be said, neither have produced a performance this season as their 34 year-old attacking teammate did at Tottenham.

"I've been here three years as manager and Tuesday's training performance by Edinson Cavani is the best performance anyone has put into a training session here," declared Solskjaer after the Uruguayan had repaid his manager with a goal on his recall. "The old men led from the front."

We've said it before in this column - but it needs raising again: Something is wrong at a club of United's status. With the players that have been on the books since Solskjaer's appointment. That it has been a 34 year-old Uruguayan who has produced the best performance on the Carrington pitches over these last three years. Solskjaer has spoken about Cavani being an example for his younger players. But is there any sort of competitive streak inside them to better their veteran teammate?

A real tridente? Ronaldo celebrates scoring United's opener with Cavani and Bruno Fernandes

In any case, Cavani should've made up Solskjaer's mind now. Defensively. Offensively. Mobility. Positioning. Cavani is head and shoulders above anyone else available to partner Ronaldo. Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Kylian Mbappe. He's been there and has the t-shirt. The veteran knows what is required when you have a player of Ronaldo's ability and talent at your team's apex. Just as he proved at Spurs.

Watch for it this week. You'll get the exes on the sofa. You'll get certain scribes in the press. They'll run down the idea of Cavani and Ronaldo succeeding together. They'll magic up thoughts of conflict. Of jealousy. Of incompatibility. But it'll all be nonsense. Seven years as PSG's workhorse is proof of that. Indeed, long time French pundit Geoffroy Garétier, just this past week, highlighted how PSG have failed to replace the Uruguayan.

Even with Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi, PSG are struggling for goals - and for Garetier that is due to the absence of Cavani: "Cavani had a huge advantage, it is that he worked for the collective.

"He replaced himself, he ran, he compensated, he was very generous physically in all areas of the field. And we have to admit that when he left, this profile was not replaced.

"There are only stars, gamblers, magicians… But there is not this shadow player who makes it possible to improve the whole."

Garetier was speaking days before this United win, but he could've been describing Cavani in post-match. Yes, he defended from the front, as Solskjaer would later state. But it was more than that. Cavani set the tone and tempo for United's performance. He pushed his teammates to play with a spirit we haven't seen since that opening day win against Leeds. Unlike anyother of the supporting cast, this is the difference Cavani, even at 34 years of age, offers. It isn't ability. It is physical qualities. It's attitude. Intensity. And credit Solskjaer for rewarding that on Saturday.

And also credit Ronaldo. He made it seven goals in 11 games with his opener in London. But more significantly, he also produced his first assist since his celebrated return. A wonderful through ball for Cavani to dink over Hugo Lloris to put the visitors 2-0 ahead. This is no coincidence. It can't be. As Garetier states, Cavani improves all those around him - including Ronaldo.

The Portuguese has been creating chances for his teammates. He has been running channels for others to take advantage. But they've failed to do so. With Cavani alongside him, suddenly it all changes for the better. That won't be the last assist Ronaldo makes with Cavani on the pitch.

This wasn't what Solskjaer was planning. He wanted pace. He wanted width. He wanted risk. But he couldn't wait for his young players to catch up. Instead, with a 70 year-old attack, he found another way.

And after this performance, Solskjaer must know that place alongside Ronaldo really should be Cavani's lose.