10 things we learned from watching Manchester United's Champions League exit to Bayern Munich
1) Gambles are only brilliant when they come off
At half-time, Fergie's decision to play Rooney seemed like a master-stroke. By the 75th minute, his decision to replace him with John O'Shea seemed like a disaster. Forget title run-ins: Arjen Robben's equaliser, putting Bayern ahead on away goals with United down to 10 men and just Nani up front could well re-define 'squeaky bum time'.
Still, at least all that cobblers about Wayne Rooney not being fit even to make the bench showed Fergie can still get one over on the media, eh? Well, actually, no... Must try harder next time, Sir Alex.
Click here to find out more!
2) Dimitar Berbatov shouldn't get too cosy in Manchester
Rooney's selection was hardly a ringing endorsement of the Bulgarian's long-term United prospects. Fergie's decision to replace him with John O'Shea even less so. Although, following the £30million man's performance against Chelsea, you get the impression Rooney could have been strapped to a gurney with a drip in his arm and still would have been preferred up front (and, probably, have been more mobile).
3) You really shouldn't back off Darron Gibson
You'd have thought a managerial great like Louis van Gaal would do his homework, right? Young Darron has made long-range scorchers his trademark over the past year or so, so why give him so much space early on?
4) Nani is no Messi
Yes, the finishes for both his goals were somewhat special (and the sublime backheel for the first first showed he was paying attention during the Chelsea defeat at least), but trying thirty-yard shots on goal from out by the touchline? Have a word with yourself, pal. And he should have had five, let alone four.
5) We'll have whatever Van der Sar drinks on a daily basis, please
His exceptional saves from Arjen Robben's exquisite long-range curler on the stroke of half-time and Franck Ribery's piledriver in the second half exhibited more agility and reactions than a 39-year old has any right to. He could have done better with the more bread and butter effort Olic scored with, mind.
6) If 'stuber' isn't German for 'tackle' then it should be
The aptly named Badstuber's challenge on Antonio Valencia was a shocker and arguably worth more than the yellow it received.
7) Fabio Capello can sleep a little easier tonight
That huge gust of wind roughly 55 minutes into the second half wasn't a freak weather condition but rather the collective sigh of relief of thousands of England fans as Wayne Rooney left the Old Trafford pitch of his own accord rather than on a stretcher. And at least Don Fabio now won't have to watch the Champions League final through his fingers as tackles fly in on any of his World Cup squad members.
Barcelona had Messi, United were just messy...
From Rafael's ill-discipline to Ferdinand's suspect defending to Fergie's substitutions, Manchester United looked far from the dominant force of old. Has Sir Alex blown his last chance at Champions League glory?
9) The Premier League doesn't look like such a great product anymore
With England's four Champions League representatives all having terrible campaigns, and the Premier League failing to provide a semi-finalist for the first time in seven years, it's safe to assume that ours is no longer The Best League In The World.
10) Fergie hasn't got any better at losing
Sir Alex's post-match reaction was textbook, refusing to take any responsibility for his side's exit and instead blaming the Bayern players for getting young Rafael sent off. The Manchester United manager's summary? 'Typical Germans'. We're sure the citizens of Munich will be too busy ordering large glasses of Schandenfreude to care...
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion ... 84219.html
