Business as usual for United on pitch
Reuters - Thursday 11 March 2010, 10:36
MANCHESTER - While the
green-and-gold-clad fans clamour for change in the boardroom it
is very much business as usual on the pitch as Manchester United
march towards a third successive Champions League final.
Such was the ease with which they crushed AC Milan 4-0 on
Wednesday for a startling 7-2 aggregate success that the fans
were left with nothing else to do in the second half but go
through their repertoire of anti-Glazer chants.
Even David Beckham joined the cause, though the former
United favourite now playing for Milan later played down his
decision to pick up a green-and-gold scarf by saying: "It's just
the club's old colours, it's nothing to do with me how the club
is run."
FEATURE: Man United's fan protest is "sloganeering in a bubble"
United fans have taken to wearing the old colours in protest
at the level of the club's debts under American owners the
Glazer family.
As Beckham and his Milan team mates flew home to Italy to
face a media mauling, United and manager Alex Ferguson were
basking in the warmth of another superb victory.
FEATURE: Humiliated Milan can't even save wrinkly face
Ferguson described last month's 3-2 first-leg San Siro win
as a "landmark game" - United enjoyed their first away win and
away goals against Milan - and Wednesday's 4-0 thumping
underlined the shift in power.
While seven-times champions Milan look very much last year's
model, United are now into the quarter-finals and chasing a
third successive final appearance. They have a generally young
and buoyant team and, with Wayne Rooney in unstoppable form,
they fear nobody.
"To beat Milan 4-0, not many teams have ever done that, it's
a fantastic night for us," Ferguson said.
With Real Madrid also going out on Wednesday via a 2-1
aggregate defeat by Olympique Lyon, the door seems to be opening
for United.
"I'm surprised by the Real result but European football is
very tough now," Ferguson said. "English clubs have done very
well in the last few years and I think they will be there (in
the final) again."
RAVENOUS ROONEY
United beat Chelsea on penalties in the 2008 all-English
final in Moscow to win the trophy for the third time and second
under Ferguson but he is still stinging about last year's loss
to Barcelona.
"That final was a game we should never have lost," he said
of the 2-0 defeat in Rome.
United have lost Cristiano Ronaldo since then but with the
improving form of Nani and Antonio Valencia feeding a ravenous
Rooney the team hardly seem to have suffered.
Rooney's double on Wednesday took his seasonal tally to 30
and if he remains fit then United will take some stopping.
Ferguson said the England striker was "just sensational" and
added: "The present team has got tremendous athleticism and
endurance in the wide positions and that's an advantage."
United have already won the League Cup and could take an
unprecedented fourth successive English League title.
"When we play with that tempo, we're difficult to play
against," said Ferguson. "With the kind of team I've got, it
doesn't matter who we play next."
There was no dissent from Milan coach Leonardo, whose
injury-weakened side were swept aside with humiliating ease.
"We have to say we met a team who are in extremely good
form," said the Brazilian.
"We had a lot of problems. They are a team who can use your
errors against you and they are clinical."