Review: Benfica v. United …
As United celebrated their first European triumph on away soil for 34 months, Sir Alex may have had his sense of satisfaction tainted by disappointment.
Louis Saha’s excellent goal means that barring a catastrophe, United can contemplate taking their place in the next round of the Champions League.
Ferguson said the result against Benfica was all that mattered but was at his most myopic in describing United’s display as a ‘good performance.’
United were extremely poor during the first half from which they were lucky to exit still on equal terms with their hosts.
Apart from the odd wobble, United’s defence was sturdy enough but the midfield enjoyed the worst of nights. Carrick, Scholes and O’Shea were unable to impose themselves on the proceedings, allowing Benfica to dictate the tempo of first half exchanges and threaten United with the purposeful, forward dynamism of their dangerous fullbacks. Wayne Rooney spent much of the first half running back towards his own goal, whilst Cristiano Ronaldo seemed intent on conducting a one-man war with the opposition and simply refused to play in better-placed team-mates.
Everything changed after United scored. The goal allowed Sir Alex’s men to bring their own rhythym to the game as Benfica vainly went in search of an equaliser.
Victory at the Stadium of Light is worth celebrating if confidence is generated for future European matches. Yet an impoverished performance will hardly have provoked trembling across Europe when United’s team composition is noted. Sir Alex sent out his very best players to do battle with Benfica and too many were found wanting.
United have now played well below ability in the past three games. The rot appeared to set in when veteran Ryan Giggs was ruled out for a month with hamstring trouble following the home encounter with Celtic. Giggs return will bring more reliability, balance and threat from the left flank. Wayne Rooney rediscovering his form cannot come a moment too soon.
Given Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Champions League performance in the white of Real Madrid, Louis Saha picked exactly the right moment to register his most important goal of the season and indeed his United career. The player has fully justified his manager’s faith. Equally, the French international has reinforced doubts expressed in these pages and elsewhere about his capacity to stay fit throughout a long gruelling campaign. A hamstring damaged in training last week was the worst news possible for a team relying so heavily on his goal scoring instincts.
United move onto a weekend meeting with Newcastle and will want to kick-start their domestic campaign with a commanding performance after the stuttering form of late. The slick passing and movement which marked the August annihilation of Fulham seem long ago now. AU
© Copyright: Absolutely United 2006
