Ahead of their clash against CSKA at Old Trafford, the Red Devils finished their last three fixtures with a 0-0 score-line, but that unwanted streak finally ended when Wayne Rooney headed in a late victor against the Russian outfit. “But we deserve it totally, I think”.
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The Frenchman took to Instagram after the victory and said: “Bad match for me tonight but good win”.
For that reason, they chanted his name in the second half when United were struggling to score and Van Gaal eventually relented, bringing the 26-year-old on in the final minute. “It is never easy for a club in the Champions League to win”.
“Denis Law is a legend at this club and to equal his record is a huge honour for me”, said England’s record worldwide goal-scorer Rooney.
And with 11 minutes remaining he chose just right as Michael Carrick’s excellent ball reached him on the right side of the box and he volleyed across goal for Rooney to nod in.
After 11 games, United are fourth in the Premier League, top of their Champions League group and unbeaten in six games (in fact they have lost only one in the last 10 if you don’t include a penalty shoot-out defeat to Middlesbrough in the Capital One Cup).
At times on Tuesday “simmering frustration” with United’s lack of flair turned into “full-blown dissent” says Oliver Kay of The Times, and the decision to replace Anthony Martial with Marouane Fellaini after 65 minutes was a particularly unpopular one at a ground used to fearless displays of daredevil attacking.
“Of course I heard that, I’m not deaf”, he said. “It’s just the opinion of the fans”.
“There is always pressure here, every time you put a shirt on and play”.
It was only an excellent save from David de Gea and a few heroic last-ditch blocking from Chris Smalling that prevented the hosts falling behind after substitute Seydou Doumbia found himself in on goal. That is also football, that you are running everything out of your body to prevent goals. “Ashley Young was also doing that [behind Smalling] – it was a great sliding tackle”.
City’s Otamendi was a monster and bullied Rooney, who is now the talk of the city with many fans wanting him dropped. “It is always an honour to play for Man Utd”, said the homegrown youngster afterwards.
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“It’s hard when teams come to defend but thankfully we got the goal at the end”.
