He came, he scored, he celebrated. But gone was the irascible reproach, replaced by a exuberant smirk. Wayne Rooney let his feet do the talking last night and put Manchester United on the verge the Champions League semi final.
Chelsea for all their probing and prodding failed to nudge through United although they will once again feel aggrieved at a penalty. Ramires hurtled towards the United goal when Patrice Evra wrapped himself around the midfielder, felling him just inside the area.
It should have been a simple decision for Alberto Undiano Mallenco, the night's mediator, but John Terry should have also aimed his post-match criticism at the fifth official. UEFA's grand plan of placing officials on the goal line will prove vacuous if they fail to spot flashpoints within their vicinity.
Carlo Ancelotti will prove expendable also if he fails to overturn the 1 goal deficit at Old Trafford and provide Roman Abramovich the one thing money has not bought.
The Italian stuck Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba together from the start, so committed is he to afford the Spaniard a place within a double winning side, a decision he may later regret as the arranged marriage failed to spark into life once again.
How Nando needs a goal. This was the night when Torres was supposed to terrorise Nemanja Vidic like he had in 2007, firing his way into the hearts of the Shed..
In the end it belonged to United and in particular an energised Rooney and the evergreen Ryan Giggs.
Rooney was everywhere. Partnered by Javier Hernandez, the forward reverted to a role in front of the Chelsea midfield but out of touch from the defence.
Michael Essien's tracking of the number 10 was like that of lost boy scout although the freedom Rooney exerted was not the responsibility of the Ghanaian alone. How could it be with Rooney marauding such vast expanses of Stamford Bridge?
Giggs goes on to defy all logical expectations of a sportsman in his twilight years. Operating in tandem with Michael Carrick, Giggs uses his sublime reading and penetration of the game in spurts these days but chose precisely the correct moment to do so last night. He was deployed with devastating effect.
When Carrick swept a darting cross field ball over the head of Jose Bosingwa at right back Giggs, in one continuous, fluid movement, took the ball into his path and beyond the Portuguese international.
Cutting to the byline United's most capped player showed the experience he is imbued with. Looking up he picked out Rooney, moving centrally and away from the congestion caused by his Mexican strike partner, who slid the ball into the corner past Petr Cech.
Like in their heavyweight encounter in the Premier League last month, United were not impervious to Chelsea’s pressing. Only this time they proved impenetrable.
Reinforced by the return of Rio Ferdinand, United’s defence stood strong and guarded their lead ferociously. Ferdinand adds a sense of calmness and reassurance to a jittery back line when he partners Vidic. How Ferguson will be glad he came through the match injury free for the end of season run in.
Special mention should also go to Carrick who played like a number 16 of old. The midfielder is yet to reaffirm himself with United fans after that night in Rome when he looked infused with inertness.
Last night he looked a different player all together, guarding the ball defiantly, making tackles and tracking Essien and Lampard. Crucially afforded Giggs space to manoeveur.
Chelsea were not without their chances. Frank Lampard failed to bundle home a goal mouth scramble towards the end of the first half and Didier Drogba stung the fingers of Edwin Van Der Sar with a fierce near post drive.
Torres later brought an acrobatic stop out of the Dutchman from a header, the keeper displaying agility beyond what his age would suggest.
Chelsea must find a way of beating him and stopping the smiling assassin to stand a chance of progressing at Old Trafford.
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