Rooney revels in new role

WAYNE ROONEY turned into a midfield star as Manchester United’s slow rehabilitation from the day it still hurts Alex Ferguson to think of continued.

On their first appearance at Old Trafford since being thrashed 6-1 by Manchester City, Antonio Valencia’s eighth-minute tap-in and a late deflected effort from Rooney ensured United grabbed maximum points from their Champions League encounter with Otelul Galati.

It was hardly a command show, but in rampaging right-back Phil Jones and Rooney – who netted his 27th Champions League goal from a starting position in central midfield – the home fans at least had a couple of happy memories to take away from a stadium where the ghosts in blue will linger.

United boss Alex Ferguson said afterwards: “winning was important. The opposition were very aggressive, they defended well, pressed us everywhere and made it difficult for us. The win makes it more comfortable for us at the top of the group, if we beat Benfica we win the group, it’s as simple as that. It should be a very good night.”

Ferguson was pleased – but not surprised – by Rooney’s performance. “I thought he was fantastic in central midfield. His awareness of people around him and choice of passing was really good. He did very well for us. I think it’s a short-term thing at the moment. It’s difficult to say. The opposition played really well against us tonight but I’d be confident of playing him there (against bigger teams).”

United’s night was soured by Michael Owen’s withdrawal through injury after less than 10 minutes.

“It’s a blow for the lad,” said Ferguson. “He’s done a thigh muscle and it’s a complete freak. I feel for him. It’s difficult to say how long-term it is.”

As the inclusion of Rio Ferdinand in place of suspended skipper Nemanja Vidic had been confirmed in advance by Ferguson, it was Rooney’s starting position in midfield that attracted most attention. It is an area Ferguson has been urged to strengthen for two years and, in the wake of that “embarrassing” City “debacle” as Ferguson described it in his programme notes, those calls have reached a crescendo.

However, there was clearly an intention to give Rooney a full chance to express his talents given Javier Hernandez was introduced when Owen limped down the tunnel. By that stage United had already got their noses in front, Rooney playing a significant role with the pass that released Dimitar Berbatov. The Bulgarian released Jones on his outside, the full-back eventually cutting a cross back that bounced past Owen’s near-post lunge and left Valencia with a tap-in.

It should have been the start of a goal avalanche against limited Romanian opponents, but United lost their way somewhat. Without a point in Group C, Otelul showed limited ambition. However, when a stray Nani pass rolled to Ionut Neagu, the young midfielder went for goal before Ferdinand could close in and brought an excellent one-handed save out of a previously underemployed David de Gea.

With Rooney operating as a virtual quarterback, sitting just in front of the back four and directing operations with a decent variation of passes, Hernandez and Berbatov attempted to gel.

Berbatov showed a nifty turn of pace to latch onto Hernandez’s eye-of-the-needle through ball, but was unable to beat Branko Grahovac from an acute angle. Hernandez could not beat the goalkeeper either with a shot on the turn after collecting Rooney’s forward pass. Soon afterwards, Berbatov blazed a shot over from Anderson’s lay-off before the pair exchanged short passes, only for the Brazilian’s goalbound effort to be booted clear by Sergiu Costin.

Rooney was next to try his luck with a curling effort from the edge of the box that failed to trouble Grahovac. Yet that failure, in addition to the growing nerves at a succession of Otelul attacks that brought no reward, merely highlighted the problem of Rooney’s use in midfield.

Sure he can adapt, as most top-class players would. His pass completion rate was of the level the watching Paul Scholes would be proud. One pass to Berbatov with the outside of his right foot was simply sensational. But his absence from the forward line costs United plenty in terms of an attacking threat, even allowing for the abilities of those asked to do the job instead.

Jones’s claim on the man-of-the-match prize strengthened with another probing right-wing raid that ended with Hernandez glancing a header over, then Berbatov turned away in anger as Nani ignored him and tried to beat Grahovac with an ambitious curling effort.

Rooney ended the anxiety with a long-range effort that took a massive deflection off Sarghi three minutes from time.

MANCHESTER UNITED: De Gea, Jones, Ferdinand, Evans (Fryers 89), Fabio Da Silva, Valencia, Anderson (Park 80), Rooney, Nani, Berbatov, Owen (Hernandez 11).

OTELUL GALATI: Grahovac, Rapa,Costin, Sarghi, Salageanu, Neagu, Filip, Giurgiu (Paraschiv 81), Antal (Iorga 61), Pena, Ilie (Frunza 52).

Referee: Marijo Strahonja (Croatia).