Rooney sends Man United through
Reuters - Wednesday 24 November 2010, 21:51
GLASGOW - Wayne Rooney showed his mental
strength remains fully intact - if not his fitness and touch -
as he coolly slotted home a late penalty to take Manchester
United into the Champions League knockout phase.
Wednesday's 1-0 win over a Rangers team hoping for a repeat
of their surprise goalless draw at Old Trafford and playing with
a similarly defensive approach, will be quickly forgotten.
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Rooney, however, will be relieved that his first start since
September following an ankle problem went off without mishap and
was capped by a crucial spot-kick after 87 minutes in Group C.
Certainly Sir Alex Ferguson was happy to focus on a positive
from his key player who has endured a torrid few months by any
standards including media stories of marital infidelity followed
by a bizarre episode in which he threatened to quit the club
only to pocket a new five-year deal instead.
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The United manager, a former Rangers centre forward himself,
said: "He's never been short of courage and it was a fantastic
penalty, a very good penalty.
"He needs games and the way we're going to do it is by
keeping him on the pitch for 90 minutes and that will continue
now as we try to get him to his level.
"He's rusty, he's needing games, that's obvious but it's a
start for him."
Rooney, who had earlier hit the woodwork, may need time on
the pitch but his appetite and workrate are certainly not in
question, witnessed by his scampering to pick up the ball to
take the penalty after Steven Naismith caught Fabio in the face
with the clock running down.
The England striker beat Allan McGregor with some aplomb -
he found the left, low corner as the keeper dived the other way - to score only his second of the season.
The goal was a fair reward for United who had huffed and
puffed to break down the Rangers defence without any luck.
Ferguson for once erred on understating the matter later
when he commented: "With the amount of possession we had, I
think we deserved the win."
With Valencia beating Bursaspor 6-1, the Scottish champions
needed a win to keep their already slim hopes of the knockout
phase alive but seemed intent solely on avoiding embarrassment
despite home advantage.
Only Kenny Miller threatened to upset United dominance with
a header which dropped narrowly wide of Edwin van der Sar's
post.
Rooney saw a header of his own hit the bar at the end of the
first half and Michael Carrick also wasted a good opportunity.
Rangers have the consolation now of Europa League
qualification but manager Walter Smith thinks they will struggle
without new signings in the New Year.
He said: "If we don't get any help in the January transfer
window we could have a struggle again because we're right down
to the bare bones."