Nani to Rooney-less United's rescue
Source: Agencies |
October 22, 2010, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
WAYNE Rooney was not even on the pitch but he still managed to dominate Manchester United's 1-0 victory over Bursaspor in the Champions League on Wednesday.
By releasing a statement detailing his motives for wanting to quit Old Trafford hours before kickoff, the injured striker ensured he would eclipse Nani's seventh-minute winner, with the Portuguese not even mentioned in the post-match news conference.
Fans waved banners declaring "Coleen may forgive you but we won't", referring to his wife and allegations about his private life, after the 24-year-old said he wanted to leave the club because of a lack of clout in the transfer market.
Ferguson, who had appeared vulnerable the previous day when describing his shock at Rooney's decision, had a more frustrated air about him when having to field yet more questions about his want-away player when he wanted to talk about the Group C win.
His anger boiled over at one reporter, who explained journalists were looking for answers because they had a rare chance to speak to Ferguson after the manager cancelled several news conferences in recent weeks.
"Why would I want to come and meet you people, the way you behaved? You're as bad as everyone, you don't deserve to be at a press conference, why would I bother with you, the way you behave," he said.
There was more drama in the news conference than there had been on the pitch, where United dominated possession although against a better class of opponent would have been made to pay for some patchy defending.
Nani broke the deadlock in the seventh minute when he turned and ran towards goal before unleashing a fine curling shot from 20 meters out past Dimitar Ivankov.
Elsewhere, Samuel Eto'o struck twice in a 4-3 win for Champions League holders Inter Milan as it survived a thrilling Tottenham Hotspur revival.
The extraordinary clash in the San Siro was the highlight of the third round of matches in Groups A-D as Tottenham conceded three times inside 15 minutes, had its goalkeeper sent off but almost snatched an unlikely point with a Gareth Bale hat-trick.
Lionel Messi's double gave Barcelona a 2-0 win over Copenhagen in the Nou Camp as it replaced the Danes at the top of Group D.
In Group B, Raul, the Champions League's all-time record scorer, took his tally to 68 with a goal in each half for German side Schalke in a 3-1 defeat of Hapoel Tel Aviv.
"To score two goals in such a big game, my first for Schalke (in the Champions League) makes me feel good. I never thought I would score 68 goals. It is a day that I want to remember," the Spaniard told reporters.
Schalke trails Olympique Lyon which made it nine points out of nine with a 2-0 victory over Benfica.
The French club is one of five sides with perfect records after three rounds of fixtures.
Rangers maintained Scottish hopes of a last-16 representative with a 1-1 home draw against Valencia to stay second behind Manchester United in Group C.
Rangers midfielder Maurice Edu scored at both ends.
Panathinaikos drew 0-0 with Rubin Kazan in group D, a result that did little to help either side's chances of muscling in on Barcelona and Copenhagen's tussle for top spot.
Twente Enschede drew 1-1 with Werder Bremen.
By releasing a statement detailing his motives for wanting to quit Old Trafford hours before kickoff, the injured striker ensured he would eclipse Nani's seventh-minute winner, with the Portuguese not even mentioned in the post-match news conference.
Fans waved banners declaring "Coleen may forgive you but we won't", referring to his wife and allegations about his private life, after the 24-year-old said he wanted to leave the club because of a lack of clout in the transfer market.
Ferguson, who had appeared vulnerable the previous day when describing his shock at Rooney's decision, had a more frustrated air about him when having to field yet more questions about his want-away player when he wanted to talk about the Group C win.
His anger boiled over at one reporter, who explained journalists were looking for answers because they had a rare chance to speak to Ferguson after the manager cancelled several news conferences in recent weeks.
"Why would I want to come and meet you people, the way you behaved? You're as bad as everyone, you don't deserve to be at a press conference, why would I bother with you, the way you behave," he said.
There was more drama in the news conference than there had been on the pitch, where United dominated possession although against a better class of opponent would have been made to pay for some patchy defending.
Nani broke the deadlock in the seventh minute when he turned and ran towards goal before unleashing a fine curling shot from 20 meters out past Dimitar Ivankov.
Elsewhere, Samuel Eto'o struck twice in a 4-3 win for Champions League holders Inter Milan as it survived a thrilling Tottenham Hotspur revival.
The extraordinary clash in the San Siro was the highlight of the third round of matches in Groups A-D as Tottenham conceded three times inside 15 minutes, had its goalkeeper sent off but almost snatched an unlikely point with a Gareth Bale hat-trick.
Lionel Messi's double gave Barcelona a 2-0 win over Copenhagen in the Nou Camp as it replaced the Danes at the top of Group D.
In Group B, Raul, the Champions League's all-time record scorer, took his tally to 68 with a goal in each half for German side Schalke in a 3-1 defeat of Hapoel Tel Aviv.
"To score two goals in such a big game, my first for Schalke (in the Champions League) makes me feel good. I never thought I would score 68 goals. It is a day that I want to remember," the Spaniard told reporters.
Schalke trails Olympique Lyon which made it nine points out of nine with a 2-0 victory over Benfica.
The French club is one of five sides with perfect records after three rounds of fixtures.
Rangers maintained Scottish hopes of a last-16 representative with a 1-1 home draw against Valencia to stay second behind Manchester United in Group C.
Rangers midfielder Maurice Edu scored at both ends.
Panathinaikos drew 0-0 with Rubin Kazan in group D, a result that did little to help either side's chances of muscling in on Barcelona and Copenhagen's tussle for top spot.
Twente Enschede drew 1-1 with Werder Bremen.
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