Slow start in Europe
Manchester United began the defence of their crown with a disappointing draw against Villarreal at Old Trafford.
With record crock Dimitar Berbatov failing to recover from the knee injury he sustained at Liverpool, Michael Carrick ruled out with an ankle problem and Paul Scholes suspended, a legacy of his needless dismissal against Zenit St Petersburg in last month's Super Cup, Ferguson was committed to making changes.
United threatened at regular intervals but through a combination of bad finishing, poor refereeing and excellent goalkeeping, failed to make the breakthrough by half-time.
The litany of woe began after just five minutes when Owen Hargreaves curled over a corner that Diego Lopez completely misjudged to leave Rio Ferdinand an empty net to steer the ball into. Unfortunately for United, Ferdinand succeeded only in prodding the ball back in the general direction it had come from.
Then it was Wolfgang Stark's turn to fail. The German official may have been deceived by Park Ji-sung falling outside the area and then opting not to make any significant protest. But there was no doubt Sebastian Eguren caught the South Korean inside the box and a penalty should have been given. Park, who did not even make United's bench in Moscow, was a constant menace, as was Carlos Tevez, who came agonisingly close to scoring as his powerful drive was tipped away by Lopez. Nani had a couple of long-range efforts and Darren Fletcher saw his header blocked at close range.
However, a goalless first half was not what Ferguson would have wanted as his team began the defence of their trophy and a quest to become the first side to win the competition - as the Champions League - in successive seasons.
The Scot resisted an obvious temptation to bring on Ronaldo at half-time. But some intricate passing involving Wayne Rooney and Fletcher, plus an up and under from Nani which Lopez collected with some difficulty, failed to convince the United boss a goal was going to come, so to huge cheers, Ronaldo was told to get stripped.
With Ronaldo and Anderson on the field, United were transformed. From becoming increasingly sluggish, the Red Devils were suddenly full of life.Evans headed wide, Lopez punched clear just as Tevez was about to connect with a Patrice Evra cross, then Gonzalo Rodriguez booted off the line as Tevez's bouncing shot was going in after Ronaldo had led a lightening break which also involved Rooney. Ronaldo eventually managed a header that floated wide before Evans hit the post but it was a familiar tale of disappointment for the hosts in front of goal this season.
With record crock Dimitar Berbatov failing to recover from the knee injury he sustained at Liverpool, Michael Carrick ruled out with an ankle problem and Paul Scholes suspended, a legacy of his needless dismissal against Zenit St Petersburg in last month's Super Cup, Ferguson was committed to making changes.
United threatened at regular intervals but through a combination of bad finishing, poor refereeing and excellent goalkeeping, failed to make the breakthrough by half-time.
The litany of woe began after just five minutes when Owen Hargreaves curled over a corner that Diego Lopez completely misjudged to leave Rio Ferdinand an empty net to steer the ball into. Unfortunately for United, Ferdinand succeeded only in prodding the ball back in the general direction it had come from.
Then it was Wolfgang Stark's turn to fail. The German official may have been deceived by Park Ji-sung falling outside the area and then opting not to make any significant protest. But there was no doubt Sebastian Eguren caught the South Korean inside the box and a penalty should have been given. Park, who did not even make United's bench in Moscow, was a constant menace, as was Carlos Tevez, who came agonisingly close to scoring as his powerful drive was tipped away by Lopez. Nani had a couple of long-range efforts and Darren Fletcher saw his header blocked at close range.
However, a goalless first half was not what Ferguson would have wanted as his team began the defence of their trophy and a quest to become the first side to win the competition - as the Champions League - in successive seasons.
The Scot resisted an obvious temptation to bring on Ronaldo at half-time. But some intricate passing involving Wayne Rooney and Fletcher, plus an up and under from Nani which Lopez collected with some difficulty, failed to convince the United boss a goal was going to come, so to huge cheers, Ronaldo was told to get stripped.
With Ronaldo and Anderson on the field, United were transformed. From becoming increasingly sluggish, the Red Devils were suddenly full of life.Evans headed wide, Lopez punched clear just as Tevez was about to connect with a Patrice Evra cross, then Gonzalo Rodriguez booted off the line as Tevez's bouncing shot was going in after Ronaldo had led a lightening break which also involved Rooney. Ronaldo eventually managed a header that floated wide before Evans hit the post but it was a familiar tale of disappointment for the hosts in front of goal this season.
posted by Swanson Red at 11:52 am
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