In his programme address to the Old Trafford faithful before this match Sir Alex Ferguson told Old Trafford fans "don´t worry", the recent run of 1-0 wins "doesn´t represent a change of tactics".
There are clubs where winning 1-0 every week would be greeted with rapture but Ferguson is acutely aware that United are not among them. They are expected to win, and to do so with style, and he has spent two decades trying to satisfy that wish. The last time a spot of tactical tinkering led to the goals drying up the disgruntlement among the supporters was voluble, even if they preferred to blame Ferguson´s assistant, Carlos Quieroz, rather than the Godfather himself.
Yet no one was complaining too loudly last night after another 1-0 win, against a team famously beaten 7-1 five months ago, gave United a firm grip on Group F of the Champions League. The Premier League champions had not played well and hardly deserved victory, but, thanks to Wayne Rooney´s superbly taken 70th-minute goal, they gained a second win in as many group matches.
Roma and United´s previous victims, Sporting Lisbon, are three points behind them and Dynamo Kiev, against whom United now play back-to-back fixtures beginning in the Ukraine on 22 October, are pointless after losing at home to Sporting last night. As Ferguson pointed out, in his pre-match spiel, "It´s points that matter at this stage in Europe. I would cheerfully settle for another 1-0 win!"
Afterwards he said of United´s sixth 1-0 win in eight matches [the other results being the 2-0 defeat of Chelsea and the Carling Cup loss to Coventry]: "It´s a disease, I´m trying to get a vaccine for it." He added: "It´s not a concern. The goals will come."
One has come, at last, for Rooney. He had not previously scored in a season interrupted by his latest metatarsal injury. It did not show as he turned on to a clever pass from Nani to drill a shot past Gianluca Curci and in off the far post.
"It will do him good," said Ferguson. "Goals always do players good. He is expected to score but this is only his fifth match and he is still trying to get his rhythm and real match fitness."
Rooney had started playing off Louis Saha, with Carlos Tevez dropped to the bench. The move made sense given United´s lack of impact in penalty areas this season, but tactical plans do not take into account human nature. Saha was largely anonymous and had to be replaced by Tevez. That pushed Rooney back up front, and he promptly scored.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo
