Ferguson glosses over United frailties

Manchester United 3 Braga 2

The result leaves United tantalisingly close to the knockout stages after three wins in a row in Group H; and with Javier Hernandez — these days the club’s fourth-choice striker — scoring twice in a rip-rousing comeback, there is no doubting the depth of attacking options available.

However, although Johnny Evans also found the net, there were once again some glaring errors at the back from a defence, still without injured lynchpin Nemanja Vidic, that looked painfully shaky and conceded twice to Braga striker Osorio Alan inside the opening 20 minutes.

However Ferguson defended his decision to field a lightweight-looking defence, including England midfielder Michael Carrick.

Rio Ferdinand was left on the bench but Ferguson said: “I think we did the right thing. It wasn’t Michael Carrick’s fault, the first goal, he did his job well.

“I think you’ve got to look at the big picture — Rio, his age, with a big game against Chelsea coming up, Chelsea (in the Carling Cup) on Wednesday, then Arsenal.

“We’ve got Vida (Nemanja Vidic) out, (Phil) Jones and (Chris) Smalling not available — Carrick’s not the best but he does his job well.”

Until kick-off at least it had been a day of smiles all round. The morning’s headlines suggested Alex Ferguson and Rio Ferdinand had kissed and made up following an argument over the defender’s unilateral decision not wear a Kick It Out t-shirt. In fact, not only was Rio forgiven but the possibility of a new contract was discussed as he nears his 34th birthday.

Then came the news from above; calming concerns that owners the Glazer family were looking to sell the club to make a quick profit in the Middle East — a rumour that started when United announced in August that 10% of the Glazer’s shares would be offered in an IPO sale to help reduce debts of €442 million.

United’s vice-chairman Ed Woodward, who also vowed Ferguson will continue to be backed in the transfer market, delivered the message from the US, saying: “There is always interest in this business but they are not willing sellers at all... I don’t see them selling completely for many, many years.”

On the field, however, there was plenty of evidence that United do need investment at this stage, particularly in front of goalkeeper David De Gea, who himself remains unconvincing.

With Vidic injured, as he so often is, and Ferdinand rested, Ferguson had to field Michael Carrick at centre-half alongside Evans and it proved an unhappy partnership.

With recent signing Alexander Buttner at left-back in place of Patrice Evra, it was a makeshift back line and one that looked shaky from the very start when Braga scored in only the second minute — Buttner completely losing his man as Alan headed home a Hugo Viana cross.

The second goal was equally embarrassing — Carrick easily beaten by the dreadlocked Antonio Eder and Buttner again wrong-footed (and subsequently berated by Evans) as Alan stole in for 2-0 with only 20 minutes on the clock.

The inevitable United comeback began with a headed goal from Hernandez, who converted a beautifully flighted cross from Shinji Kagawa in the 25th minute. And it was completed after 62 minutes when Evans cleverly turned the ball home following a scramble in the six-yard box as Braga inadvisably opted for an all-out defence policy in the second half.

By that stage United had brought on winger Nani and altered their midfield diamond to accommodate him; a decision that at least brought more urgency to the home team’s play.

Nani came close to winning it in fact when his long-range effort was saved but Hernandez eventually did the trick, heading home a wonderful right-wing cross from Cleverley with 15 minutes still to play.

Job done you might say, one foot in the last 16 and more to smile about following a day of good news. So why was there still a nagging feeling that United are not quite the real deal? Maybe because the case for the defence is very unconvincing indeed.

MAN UNITED: De Gea 5, Da Silva 6, Carrick 6, Evans 6, Buttner 5, Kagawa 6 (Nani 46; 7), Fletcher 6, Cleverley 7, Rooney 6, Hernandez 8 (Giggs 79), van Persie 7.

BRAGA: Beto 7, Leandro Salino 6, Nuno Andre 6, Paulo Vinicius 6, Elderson 6, Custodio 7, Hugo Viana 7, Ruben Amorim 6, Alan 8 (Mossoro 86), Ruben Micael 6 (Ze Luis 88), Eder 7.

Referee: Milorad Mazic (Serbia).