Lindegaard stars as Giggs comes to United rescue

ALEX FERGUSON praised goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard’s performance in the 1-1 Champions League draw with Benfica as United came from behind to salvage a point.

Lindegaard impressed on his debut in the competition, with Ryan Giggs equalising after Oscar Cardozo’s opener.

Lindegaard’s performance only served to highlight question marks over big-money summer signing David De Gea though, following the Spaniard’s hotly-debated start to the season.

Asked whether Lindegaard had given him a selection dilemma in choosing between he and De Gea in goal against Chelsea this weekend, Ferguson said: “No, not at all.

“David De Gea will play on Sunday. That was the understanding we had before the game, and it doesn’t change.

“I don’t know why you ask these questions, you’re just looking for stupid little things. Anyway...it proves we have two terrific goalkeepers.

“There are opportunities to spread the load.

“The English league is so frenetic. Coming into that, as a young goalkeeper, there will be times when we can give him [De Gea] a break.

“Tonight was a good moment because he had a fantastic game on Saturday.”

Ferguson may see De Gea as first choice but that’s not how Lindegaard sees it. He wants action now.

Asked about challenging for the first-team spot, Lindegaard said: “What answer do you expect to that question? I’ve said a thousand times before I’m not here to pick my nose.”

Amid all the plaudits United have received for their flying start to the season, Giggs has been virtually ignored, amid lurid revelations about his private life.

But on the pitch, he continues to dazzle. He may be 37 but his mind is as quick as the day he made his debut, over two decades ago.

With his side trailing and struggling, Giggs picked up possession on the right flank three minutes before the break and shot into the space Benfica had afforded him.

The Welshman quickly transferred the ball on to his favoured left foot and from 20 yards rasped an unstoppable shot high past Artur.

It earned him yet another milestone, as the player to have scored in more Champions League seasons — 16 — than anyone else, this his 27th goal in a competition many think is harder to win than the World Cup.

United celebrated and breathed a huge sigh of relief.

They had started in composed manner but all the assurance withered away as the half proceeded and Benfica gained in confidence.

Old stager Pablo Aimar pulled the strings, Nicolas Gaitan and Cardozo attempted to take advantage. Both went close, and both were denied by last-ditch tackles.

Eventually the breakthrough came as Cardozo controlled Gaitan’s cross on his chest, before whipping round Jonny Evans and drilling a fine shot past Lindegaard.

United were stunned, and Antonio Valencia looked to lift their malaise as he charged onto a Wayne Rooney pass at the start of the second half.

Benfica remained dangerous and Lindegaard produced the best save of the match to deny substitute Nolito before Emerson fired wide.

Valencia and Darren Fletcher lasted 67 minutes of their first appearances of the season before former Sporting Lisbon winger Nani and Javier Hernandez were introduced.

If those changes could be put down to fatigue, the decision to swap Fabio with Phil Jones appeared solely to stem the flow of Benfica attacks as Lindegaard again did well to deny Gaitan.

Gradually though, the fire subsided from the home side and Giggs grabbed United’s equaliser with his sublime strike.

There are a few tricks left in this old dog.

BENFICA: Artur Moraes, Maxi Pereira, Luisao, Garay, Emerson, Amorim (Nolito 56), Javi Garcia, Witsel, Aimar (Matic 75), Cardozo, Gaitan (Bruno Cesar 90).

MAN UTD: Lindegaard, Fabio Da Silva (Jones 78), Evans, Smalling, Evra, Fletcher (Hernandez 69), Carrick, Giggs, Valencia (Nani 69), Rooney, Park.

Ref: Damir Skomina (Slovenia).