Rooney and Ruud start for United

Manchester United’s new owners took their seats at Old Trafford for the first time tonight as Sir Alex Ferguson’s men looked to avoid a financially crippling Champions League exit at the hands of Hungarian unknowns Debrecen.

As promised, Joel, Avi and Bryan Glazer took their place in the directors’ box despite widespread anger at father Malcolm’s takeover and a mass demonstration outside the stadium.

After using his programme notes to call for the Glazer’s to be afforded a friendly welcome, Ferguson named a strong side in the hope of making the second leg in Budapest on August 24 nothing more than a formality.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney were handed wide berths either side of lone striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, Park Ji-sung’s recent head injury forcing Ferguson to name the South Korean among his substitutes.

United’s other new signing, goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, was handed his debut while John O’Shea’s greater match fitness won him the left-back role ahead of Gabriel Heinze.