Manchester United fans had a lot more to cheer about this weekend in the Premier League.Having gradually digested their 4-1 drubbing in the Manchester derby just a week ago, the Old Trafford faithful geared themselves up for a clash with Tottenham Hotspur that proved to be pivotal in their season.That's because a stunning hat-trick from Cristiano Ronaldo saw the Red Devils secure a 3-2 win where anything less could have seen their hopes of Champions League qualification crash and burn.

Man Utd 3-2 Tottenham

Was it perfect? Absolutely not. Antonio Conte's men were the better side for great swathes of the game, but United held their own nonetheless and that gave Ronaldo just enough to get his teeth stuck into.

A fierce long-range strike, poacher's finish and emphatic header saw Ronaldo fire United into the lead not once, not twice, but three times despite Spurs' best efforts to take something back from the north-west.

In fact, while the scoreline might suggest otherwise at first glance, United's defence enjoyed one of their better games against top opposition this season with Tottenham's goals ultimately coming from a penalty and own goal.

Maguire and Varane vs Spurs

Harry Maguire will inevitably be mocked and teased for having scored said own goal, but it was by no means the club captain's worst performance in what has been an undeniably tough season.

Plus, any mistakes that did creep into Maguire's game were ultimately mitigated by the presence of Raphael Varane, who cut the figure of a cool, calm and quality operator across the 90 minutes.

However, despite all of the eventual positives, Roy Keane was clearly fearing for the worst when we saw United's centre-back duo taking to the Old Trafford pitch wearing - drum roll, please - gloves before the game.

Although Maguire and Varane went onto play sturdily enough as a partnership in the Spurs win, Keane was, well, Keane in his amusing displeasure at the sight of the club's centre-halves keeping their hands warm.

Man Utd 3-2 Tottenham Match Reaction (Football Terrace)

Roy Keane on wearing gloves

The Premier League legend is notorious for his cutting and uncompromising analysis in the Sky Sports studio with everything from hugging to hairdos coming under fire, but gloves are a new one on us.

Nevertheless, the sight of Keane looking miffed by the two United stars at the heart of the defence protecting their digits from the nippy Manchester air was just as amusing as you're picturing now.

As footage of the glove-clad Varane and Maguire appeared on the broadcast, Keane fumed: "Are they gloves? Are they wearing gloves? Is that what I’m seeing? Am I seeing things? That’s a great message, yeah."

Presenter Kelly Cates then played devil's advocate by interjecting: "Maybe they’ve just got cold hands."

To which Keane responded: "Two big strong centre-halves, I don’t mind full-backs [wearing gloves] but your two centre-halves."

Never change, Roy, never change.

United's centre-back options

In the end, Maguire ditched the mittens for the game itself whereas Varane continued to keep his hands snug and warm, which didn't exactly harm what was a sound display in the famous red jersey.

However, gloves or not, there were certainly positives to be found in one of the better Varane and Maguire performances of the season, even if it still doesn't smack of a world-beating partnership.

So, who knows, perhaps United will loosen their pursestrings for a centre-back once again this summer, but just be sure to warn them to leave their gloves at home otherwise Keane will have them on toast.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: Raphael Varane, Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Maguire of Manchester United look on during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on March 12, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: Raphael Varane, Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Maguire of Manchester United look on during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on March 12, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)