Fergie’s gamble backfires

ALEX FERGUSON, one wag suggested, must have mistaken the Champions League for the Carling Cup in his old age after making 10 changes for a ‘Battle of Britain’ against Rangers; but whatever the reason for his overconfidence he paid a high price with a dour goalless draw and a sickening ankle injury to Antonio Valencia that could keep the winger out for the rest of the season.

Valencia’s departure after 63 minutes may well have more meaning in the long-term than two dropped points in Group C but this was still not a happy night for Manchester United — and even Ferguson was subdued as he surveyed the wreckage.

“He has a dislocation and a fracture,” the Scot said. “He has an operation Wednesday morning. It was a really innocuous challenge, really. When you saw the Rangers playing waving, you knew it was a bad one. It’s similar to the injury Alan Smith got, so you are talking about the rest of the season.”