Carrick answers the call

THE opening weeks of the season have been full of thinly veiled challenges from Alex Ferguson towards Michael Carrick and the England midfielder responded with a well taken winner to beat a stubborn Wolfsburg team.

For much of the start of the campaign Carrick has found himself in the stand but the midfielder came up with an impressive strike to earn United a hard-fought victory over the German champions – their eighth consecutive win.

Privately United may feel that a lack of pace will stop Edin Dzeko, who scored 26 goals in the Bundesliga last season, becoming one of Europe’s best but the Bosnian did what he is renowned for, towering above Patrice Evra to head Wolfsburg ahead in the 55th minute.

After all these years the Stretford End know what to expect from Ryan Giggs and the Welshman’s deflected free kick pulled United level three minutes later before Carrick made it six points from two matches for United.

Ferguson hailed Giggs’ contribution. The United boss said: “He’s unbelievable. With all the superlatives and praise he’s had over the years, I don’t know how you can add to it. He’s a marvellous player.’’

Ferguson said he was pleased with the standard of performance from his side, in particular the battling qualities they showed in coming back to beat a strong Bundesliga outfit.

Ferguson added: “We got a bit fortuitous for our goal with the deflection but the performance deserved it.

“I thought it was a very good performance. What they are good at is they never give in. No matter what the score is, they keep playing and they get their reward. Our performance level was very good.”

On Michael Owen, who limped off in the first half with a groin complaint, Ferguson added: “Groins are difficult to say – he could be out for maybe two to three weeks. But his fitness level is good so it shouldn’t be too long.”

Early defensive slips gave Wolfsburg early openings. Hesitancy from Nemanja Vidic allowed Grafite to pull back for Christian Gentner to force a low save from Tomasz Kuszczak before a crazy pass across his own back four from Evra allowed Dzeko to break from midfield and sent a shot narrowly wide.

Wayne Rooney drove wide with a free-kick but United were struggling to find any fluency.

They faced further disruption as Owen, who had been struggling with a groin problem in the build-up to the game, was replaced by Dimitar Berbatov with less than a quarter of the game gone. But Berbatov was in the mood and after drilling a pass through for Rooney, the Bulgarian back-heeled to send Antonio Valencia through only for the Ecuadorian to drag wide of goal. Another fine move involving Berbatov and Valencia created room for Rooney but the England forward, making his 50th Champions League appearance, scuffed his effort on goal before another Valencia cross was headed straight at Benaglio by Carrick.

Ten minutes after the restart, Wolfsburg finally isolated United’s weak defensive link and Makato Hasebe’s clipped cross as they were given advantage, saw Dzeko tower above Evra before using impressive power to turn a header past Kuszczak.

But the lead was to last just three minutes as Giggs’ free-kick flew off Gentner to leave Benaglio no chance for United to draw level.

And with 12 minutes left Berbatov remained calm eight yards out and the ball fell for Giggs, who guided into the path of Carrick, who swept into the top corner of the net for the winner.

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-4-2): Kuszczak 6; O’Shea 5, Vidic 6, Ferdinand 6, Evra 5; Valencia 6 (Fletcher 82, 6), Carrick 7, Anderson 7, Giggs 8; Rooney 7, Owen 6 (Berbatov 20, 8).

WOLFSBURG (4-4-2): Benaglio 5; Riether 6, Madlung 7, Costa 6, Schafer 5; Gentner 7, Josue 8, Misimovic 8, Hasebe 6 (Ziani 73, 6); Grafite 7 (Martins 82, 6), Dzeko 7.

Referee: Viktor Kassai (HUN).