Fergie takes heart from United front line

CFR Cluj 1 Manchester United 2

Named in the same team as the Dutchman for the first time, Wayne Rooney created both goals but not before an early scare when they went behind to a Pantelis Kapetanos’ goal on 14 minutes.

Manager Alex Ferguson was less than impressed with the sluggish start but said he was pleased with how their attacking options are developing.

“I think there are good combinations between all the players in attacking positions,” he said.

“The strength of this squad is in attacking positions. If you look at the way they kept going to the end, they’re good crossers of the ball. They kept us under pressure the whole time and kept us on edge. I’m really pleased that the possession was really good tonight and apart from their goal I think we defended really well.”

Van Persie levelled the scores on 29 minutes before clinching the winner four minutes after the break with the deftest of touches after he got on the end of Rooney’s inviting ball over the top.

And the Dutchman was quick to praise his fellow strike partner.

“Wayne gave me the good pass so I have to thank him. Not many players can give a pass like that.

“When the ball came to him I knew that he could see the pass and give it to me exactly the way I wanted. I think I’m on the way, I’d like to make more assists. For me, as I’ve said many times, it’s not about goals – it’s about winning.”

The result means back-to-back wins over Braga will take United into the last 16 with two games to spare but Ferguson cannot be entirely happy with this trip to Transylvania, and was left spitting fire as his team fell behind for the sixth time in nine games.

The Scot, in his pre-match address said, “It will be the last” when asked about his side’s woeful record of conceding the first goal.

But after 14 minutes, there it was again. Cluj 1 Manchester United 0. Rafael Bastos swept a superb pass out wide to Modou Sougou, who exposed Patrice Evra’s defensive frailties, then whipped in a low cross which Kapetanos finished in fine style.

But they were level within 15 minutes and went ahead shortly after the break. Van Persie came close to completing his second Red Devils hat-trick when he slid in to reach yet another Rooney cross. This time, though, he could not quite get there.

CFR CLUJ: Mario Felgueiras, Sepsi, Cadu, Rada, Ivo Pinto, Sougou (Luis Alberto 23), Aguirregaray (Nicoara 80), Muresan, Camora, Bastos, Kapetanos (Bjelanovic 61).

MAN UNITED: De Gea, Da Silva, Ferdinand, Evans (Wootton 79), Evra, Cleverley, Anderson, Fletcher, Rooney, Hernandez (Welbeck 83), Van Persie.

Ref: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain).