Manchester United suffered an unexpected draw against Scottish champions Rangers last night with Antonio Valencia suffering a horror injury, furthering Sir Alex Ferguson’s misery.
Wayne Rooney made his first United appearance since allegations he slept with two prostitutes but was frustrated against a resolute and determined Rangers. Winger Valencia will today have surgery after he appeared to break his left ankle in an innocuous challenge with Kirk Broadfoot.
Ferguson named ten changes to the side that drew at against Everton in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday, with Darren Fletcher the only survivor. The United manager handed season-debuts to Tomasz Kuszcak, Chris Smalling, Wes Brown, Darron Gibson and, returning from World Cup injury, Rio Ferdinand. Rangers manager Walter Smith welcomed Kirk Broadfoot into his side after a late fitness test.
Rangers set up with a flat 4-5-1, with Kenny Miller leading the line, and were prepared to allow United possession in the second third. When United did try to penetrate the final third, Rangers scurried around the ball and erased any attack. United’s main threat came from Gibson, whose first half strikes went close without ever threatening Allan McGregor’s goal. Rooney was partnered upfront by Javier Hernandez but the partnership failed to combine and cause Rangers’ defence, lead by 40 year-old captain David Weir, major problems.
Rangers proved effective at narrowing their shape and getting ten players behind the ball when United were in possession. A tactic utilised by many at Old Trafford but rarely with such success and ease.
Indeed, United looked like United but never truly played like they can. The tempo was slow for a Champions League game under the midweek floodlights. It took time for passes to be distributed wide and link up play was lacking inspiration.
During the second half, Valencia, who enjoyed a successful previous season, appeared to lose his footing under the threat of Broadfoot. Sky camera’s showed the injury in real time but refused to show replays such was the extent of the injury. He was stretchered off breathing through an oxygen mask and was taken straight to hospital. Ferguson later said that he expects the Ecuadorian to miss the rest of the season, meaning United are a winger down without a dearth of quality to fill in.
The introduction of Ryan Giggs gave United a more spark but it was the guile of Paul Scholes that was missed most by the 2008 winners. Openings were few and far between and it was left to the long range shooting of Gibson to provide the Old Trafford with any reason to expect a late goal.
As it was Rangers held out for an impressive 0-0 draw, the final whistle greeted by the travelling three thousand supporters with roars that will travel back to Glasgow with them.
After the match Ferguson defended his team selection saying that it had played with “great intensity” adding that with the side he played United should have emerged victorious.
Smith, a long-time friend of Ferguson’s, said his team had played well that it had been “a great night for us”.
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