Rooney magic works oracle

Manchester United 1 Real Sociedad

After losing a last-minute goal to Southampton last weekend — a result which leaves United embarrassingly in mid-table in the Premier League — the last thing David Moyes probably needed this week was for his predecessor to open old wounds with a warts-and-all account of his time at Old Trafford — and in particular his views on ‘ask away’ striker Rooney.

So the sight of the controversial forward in full flow against Sociedad, forcing the visitors into a second-minute own goal that decided the tie, will have come as a major relief to everyone at the club, including Ferguson who watched from the directors box.