United Separate Men From The Boys

12 March 2010

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Most of the talk before this tie has been of David Beckham’s return to his old club, but it was United’s new hero that once again stole all the headlines.

Many people thought that losing Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez would ensure United would no longer have the muscle to compete with Europe’s best.

Losing them was undoubtedly a huge blow, but maybe a blessing in disguise as Wayne Rooney has proved that he is more than capable of filling Ronaldo’s boots.

For four seasons Rooney played in the shadow of Ronaldo and was happy to do whatever was asked of him whilst his team-mate hogged the limelight.

With the Portuguese wizard moving to Real Madrid, Rooney was more than happy to step up and become United’s main man. You can be sure that this was Sir Alex Ferguson’s plan all along.

Over the two legs Milan could not live with Rooney, his explosive strength and pace was simply too much for the Milan old guard.

Nemanja Vidic returned to the centre of defence, resuming his partnership with Rio Ferdinand, a sight that has been all too rare this season to injuries and suspensions.

Unfortunately, Milan proved over these too legs that this current team are finished. This may be a harsh assessment but it is clear that this aging team needs a serious overhaul if they are to seriously challenge in Europe.

Whether it is age, fitness or sheer laziness, Milan’s vibrancy levels just no where near those of  United’s  over the two legs. Park Ji Sung epitomised United with his typically energised performance, darting around the field fighting for every ball.

Milan just didn’t show anywhere near the same kind of effort. Near enough every player was guilty of standing off United Players, giving them the time on the ball they needed to deliver the perfect cross.

There’s no doubt that Milan are packed with talent, but talent alone doesn’t guarantee success. You only have to look at Barcelona last year as an example, a team that had world class players all over the field, but it was the work ethic instilled in them that helped them rise to the pinnacle of European football.

When they played United in the final last year they pressured there opponents as soon as they got the ball. United players didn’t have time to think, but last night they were granted all the time in the world by Milan.

This is exactly what happened when Gary Neville whipped in a peach of a cross onto the head of none other than Wayne Rooney. It’s now eight headed goals from nine games for Rooney, an astonishing record for someone who was atrocious at heading the ball only a couple of seasons ago.

Clarence Seedorf came on at half time and looked immediately to penetrate United’s defence but the Vidic-Ferdinand partnership looked as solid as they were when United won the double two season’s ago.

Within minutes of the second half Nani sprinted forward and released a pin perfect ball to Rooney who had managed to break from his marker and go one on one with the keeper. In the form he’s in there is only ever going to be one outcome.

Milan, looking as though they no longer wanted to be in the hell they were in, offered no form of response and were simply playing a game of damage limitation.

On the 59th minute Milan were again guilty of standing off Paul Sholes giving him the time to slide a delightful pass into the feet of Park who calmly slotted home for United’s third.

With the tie effectively over, David Beckham finally made an appearance to thunderous applause from the United faithful.

In the 25 minutes he was on, the former United schoolboy caused more problems with his trademark crosses that any other player in the entire match. He even forced a save from van der Sar with a beautifully hit volley.

Unfortunately though, like so many of his team mates, Beckham doesn’t has the legs he used to so his efforts were in vain.

Darren Fletcher completed the rout late on with a header at the far post, making the final score line 7.2 on aggregate.

Ironically, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid were humiliatingly knocked out by Lyon, so how fitting it was that his old team should send out a message that will send shivers down the spines of Europe’s elite.

FemaleFirst Kenny Lomas

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