Thread: AC Milan and Man United

United definitely going for the early goal, with Rooney looking particularly sharp!

1-0 for Man U! That man Rooney again, yet another header from a Gary Neville cross!

MAN UNITED 1-0 AC MILAN

It was only a matter of time before someone scored, and the goalscorer will raise few eyebrows. Gary Neville clips a perfect cross from the right and WAYNE ROONEY pulls off Bonera and powers a header into the corner past a helpless Abbiati. Rooney's almost unfathomable scoring run with his head continues.

Good thing is that AC now have to score 3 goals (and Man U no more) to win the tie. Really should open the game up (although it can't get more open than it is at the moment), and some good opportunities for Man U to counter attack.

"Manchester United's Gary Neville might 'hate Scousers' as the Old Trafford song goes, but he showed plenty of love for Wayne Rooney there with the most inviting cross for the unstoppable striker to head past Milan keeper Christian Abbiati. Milan might have taken encouragement from a couple of early openings but that goal was exactly what Sir Alex Ferguson craved - and no surprise who scored it."

SUBDUED

Milan are starting to look a bit subdued in midfield. I wonder if they've got the spirit and/or quality to give United a game tonight - a statement which shows just how far United have edged ahead of their opponents in the last couple of years.

Half time, and a really good performance from Man U so far. Of particular note, Scholes, Fletcher and Park in midfield, and even Gary Neville has kept Ronaldinho quiet. Nothing lacking anywhere so far, and I think AC will put on Beckham and Seedorf sooner rather than later. We just need to maintain the impetus, and keep pressing them. Not impossible, but just can't see AC scoring 3 goals in the second half.

And it's 2-0!!!!! Our main man Rooney again! What a player, and hopefully it's all over only 2 minutes into the 2nd half.

2-0 guess it's all over now

3-0!!! Great work from Nani to put Park through, and a well taken low shot! Surely that's got to be it? No, maybe some more from Rooney?

Beckham coming on, great reception from the OT crowd. His Mum's here also apparently.

Rooney hat trick on the cards..........?

Rooney off, Berbatov on. He needs a rest, the work he's done this evening.

4-0!!!! Darren Fletcher, coming in from the left to meet a great cross! One more would be great!

All over. Great performance from everyone in a United shirt this evening. Lot of camera action on Beckham of course, but in truth when he came on he looked like one of AC's best players. Great crossing, good distribution. They should have played him from the start.

From what I'm reading, Real Madrid have been put out by Lyon! Pity, that would have been a classic Quarter/Semi Final, Rooney against Ronaldo.

An observation from the Daily Telegraph:

'They came to praise David Beckham and bury AC Milan. They came to praise Wayne Rooney and bury the Glazers. On a surreal evening at Old Trafford, the mood switching from testimonial to revolution and celebration, Manchester United cruised into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Good performances were seen throughout United’s team. Rooney was himself, wonderfully accomplished, a constant menace, scoring two more goals.

Ji-sung Park kept Andrea Pirlo quiet and even popped up to score. Darren Fletcher was industry personified, moving around the pitch with all the energy that Milan so patently lack, and capping his fine display with a late, headed goal.

Milan ran into the perfect storm, a tempest blowing through them like the statues risk becoming. Beckham was emotionally received, the former United player wiping a tear away by the generosity of the welcome, but he was always going to be a sideshow. Of more interest was the stunning anti-Glazer campaign full of banners, scarves and chants.

Ferguson had deployed similar tactics to the San Siro, deputing Park to follow Milan’s deep-lying playmaker, Pirlo, and using Rooney as the lone striker, again to spectacular effect. Within 12 minutes, Rooney had scored, taking his remarkable tally of headed goals to seven in succession, all but killing the tie as a contest. Moments in the second half, Rooney poached another, this time with his foot, and it was all over barring the shouting about the Glazers.

In scoring his first, Rooney was helped both by the exceptional quality of the delivery from Gary Neville and by the abject nature of Milan’s reaction to unfolding danger. Whatever they get up to in the famous Milan Lab, some extra work on concentration is required. When Ronaldinho failed to track back with Neville, a yard of space opened and the United captain exploited it to the full, setting the stage for Rooney’s goal.

Preferred to Rafael following the youngster’s chastening experience against Ronaldinho in Lombardy, Neville lifted over a magnificent cross, the dropping perfectly towards the penalty spot where Rooney was lurking with intent. Daniele Bonera had dozed off, gifting Rooney the freedom to make a twisting leap, powering an unstoppable header past Christian Abbiati.
Once again, Rooney’s prolific success up top for United provided further food for thought for Fabio Capello, although the England manager is adamant that Rooney will play in the hole at the World Cup. Rooney is a threat wherever he is fielded but Ferguson clearly believes he is most effective as the front man.

Rooney’s goal made it 4-2 on aggregate, meaning Milan required three.

The Italians might have scored before Rooney struck, Ronaldinho heading wide and then Klaas Jan Huntelaar’s touch letting him down badly. United withstood these early scares, plumped up their cushion through Rooney and looked utterly in control.

No Milan player was allowed to settle in possession, flashes of red dancing like fireflies around them. When Mathieu Flamini lingered on the ball, Paul Scholes came flying in with the type of lengthy run-up usually seen at the other Old Trafford. Perhaps remembering past encounters against United with Arsenal, Flamini wisely jumped out of the way.

Ferguson’s system was working well, United enjoying numbers in midfield where Scholes and Fletcher worked with their customary diligence. Fletcher even tried to enhance United’s lead, sending a shot just wide. Antonio Valencia and the left-sided Nani continued to stretch Milan.

Moments after the restart, Nani showed his threat on the counter, racing away from Ignazio Abate and then playing a sublime ball with the outside of his right foot behind Milan’s defence. Rooney scarcely had to break stride to slide the ball past Abbiati. Ferguson’s half-time instruction to “keep the tempo up’’ had certainly been heeded by the players.

The game won, United’s supporters voiced their anger at the way the American owners, the Glazer family who were present, were running their club. Twirling their green-and-gold scarves above their heads, they chanted “Love United, Hate Glazer’’ incessantly.

The atmosphere was good all evening, despite the lack of a competitive edge on the pitch. Milan could have pulled one back when Abate crossed from the right but Huntelaar headed over. United showed Milan how to finish moments later, following a Valencia dart down the right. When he laid the ball back to Scholes, Milan’s defence was even more of a mess, ripe for the taking. Scholes rolled the ball through to Park, who promptly placed his shot from right to left past poor Abbiati.

The game then turned into a testimonial with a tearful Beckham arriving after 63 minutes, being afforded a hugely emotional reception from United fans and ironic chants of "Fergie, Fergie sign him up". Beckham, his best years long gone, looked overwhelmed by the fans’ reaction.

Ferguson removed Rooney, the footballing equivalent of declaring, confirming the game had ended as a contest.

Beckham, so used to creating chances for United in his pomp, almost fashioned another for them. Underhitting a back-pass, Beckham allowed Nani a run at goal before Milan’s defenders managed to reorganise and thwart Nani.

Beckham, who put on a green and gold scarf after the match, then displayed his more positive side, unleashing a volley that Edwin van der Sar pushed over. Breaking off from saluting Beckham, the Stretford End then unfurled two large 'Love United Hate Glazer' banners. All the while, the percussive sound of their dissent towards the Americans was beat out, including an impassioned chant of "we want Glazer out".

There was more. Milan were so poor and United so good. When Rafael hoisted over a cross from the right, Fletcher headed home the goal his work-rate deserved.'

Amen

We nearly did a Roma on them

United 4 AC Milan 0: Player ratings

Peter Spencer

Van der Sar: Dealt expertly with Pirlo's swerving shot on 20 minutes. Showed his awareness blocking yesterday's United hero Beckham's spectacular long-range effort 7


Neville: Surprise starter but played as if he's out to catch Capello's eye and win a place on the plane to South Africa. Brilliant cross to find Rooney for the opener. Red Nev was back to his best. 8


Ferdinand: Stroll in the park for the England skipper which is amazing when you consider the quality of the opposition strikers. Didn't clear properly as Milan battled to avoid total embarrassment – and Beckham connected to test Van der Sar. 7



Vidic: Fully committed as demonstrated with the clash of heads with Flamini. His partnership with Rio looked solid and it is such a pity, according to an increasing number of reports, he may well be off to sunnier climes in the summer. 7


Evra: With Milan playing so deep with infrequent attacks the world's most accomplished left back had a quiet game. Perhaps he was under orders not to get forward too much. Nothing much to do until Beckham entered the fray. 7


Fletcher: Acres of space in midfield which he patrolled with authority. Key tackle as Pirlo was about to pounce just before the interval and then went on within a minute to almost score United's second with a strike narrowly wide. Bossed the show and who better to seal a famous victory? 8


Scholes: Relished and took full advantage to finish the job he started with that fluke goal in the San Siro first leg. Neat triangles all night and didn't really need to get involved in any rough stuff which more often than not ends up in him being booked. Did see yellow however for kicking ball away. Set up Park with superbly weighted pass as the Reds dominated. 8


Park: Eager beaver who often gets the nod for the big games. His industry plays a key part in Fergie's master planning, particularly with the way he kept danger man Pirlo relatively quiet. This guy just never ever stops running which is so important to the team. Fully deserved to get on the scoresheet following an all-action show. 8


Valencia: Lots of room down the right to exploit…and he did early on. For once it was Nani who won the battle of the wingers. It was like United of a bygone age with two wide men for a full 90 minutes.Desperately tried to get among the scorers on a famous European night. 7


Nani: Ridiculous header trying to clear on the edge of the box set up Ronaldinho for early Milan chance. Tried to redeem himself a minute later with long range effort that forced Abbiati save. That early blunder was most certainly forgotten was the exquisite cross just after the break with the outside of his foot to set up the Rooney Monster's killer second goal. 7


Rooney: ITV commentator likened him to the King Denis Law for the excellent goal-scoring form he's in adding accurate heading to his repertoire. Maybe with 30 goals already this season he's going to take over that mantle. Not much sign of a knee injury with the leap for his first or the pace to get on the end of Nani's cross for the second. 9


Subs:

Berbatov (Rooney 66) game virtually over when he came on but still showed deft touchches. Unlucky not to get starting place as he's in a rich vein of form.
Rafael (Neville 66) Milan's threat had faded and what there was was thanks to Beckham on the other flank.
Gibson (Scholes 72) Two shots but no luck. Rare chance to test himself against big names who failed to live up to their reputations



Subs not used: Kuszczak, Da Silva, Jonathan Evans, Obertan, Diouf.

AC Milan: Abbiati, Abate(Beckahm 64), Bonera(for Seedorf 45), Thiago Silva, Jankulovski, Flamini, Pirlo, Ambrosini, Huntelaar, Borriello( Inzaghi 68), Ronaldinho. Subs: Dida, Gattuso, Zambrotta, Favalli.


Battle of the bosses: Fergie's determination to play the traditional attacking United way was rewarded when Rooney's opener left Leonardo's aristocrats needing three goals to keep their Euro dreams alive. Milan should have started with Beckham who would obviously have been out to impress back at Old Trafford.

Referee: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland) Didn't get anything wrong. Will be delighted his reputation has grown……8
Attendance: 74,500

Originally Posted by FarangRed

There's a match to keep your eye on, Real Madrid v Lyon already RM 1-0 down, if they were to get knocked out there would be hell on Lyon pissed on their bonfire coz don't forget the final is at RM ground and all the money they spent, it is their dream to win the final in the Spanish Capitol

What I tell you guys?

CR7 must be wishing he was back at Gold Trafford. Hi-Ho hi-ho... its off to Madrid we go!!!!

Manchester United crushed AC Milan at Old Trafford to ease into the Champions League quarter-finals.

In-form striker Wayne Rooney's double put the Reds in command before Ji-sung Park and Darren Fletcher sealed a comprehensive victory.

The brace takes Rooney's tally up to 30 for the season.

If United's win in the San Siro was a landmark victory according to Sir Alex Ferguson then this was quite simply a landslide success.

This was always on the cards with MU playing a has-been team involved in a has-been league. Unfortunaltley Italian football can not aspire to the many no longer. Of course Inter could be the exception but even Mourinio has stated his desire to leave the Serie A.

Originally Posted by PAG

An observation from the Daily Telegraph:

'They came to praise David Beckham and bury AC Milan. They came to praise Wayne Rooney and bury the Glazers. On a surreal evening at Old Trafford, the mood switching from testimonial to revolution and celebration, Manchester United cruised into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Good performances were seen throughout United’s team. Rooney was himself, wonderfully accomplished, a constant menace, scoring two more goals.

Ji-sung Park kept Andrea Pirlo quiet and even popped up to score. Darren Fletcher was industry personified, moving around the pitch with all the energy that Milan so patently lack, and capping his fine display with a late, headed goal.

Milan ran into the perfect storm, a tempest blowing through them like the statues risk becoming. Beckham was emotionally received, the former United player wiping a tear away by the generosity of the welcome, but he was always going to be a sideshow. Of more interest was the stunning anti-Glazer campaign full of banners, scarves and chants.

Ferguson had deployed similar tactics to the San Siro, deputing Park to follow Milan’s deep-lying playmaker, Pirlo, and using Rooney as the lone striker, again to spectacular effect. Within 12 minutes, Rooney had scored, taking his remarkable tally of headed goals to seven in succession, all but killing the tie as a contest. Moments in the second half, Rooney poached another, this time with his foot, and it was all over barring the shouting about the Glazers.

In scoring his first, Rooney was helped both by the exceptional quality of the delivery from Gary Neville and by the abject nature of Milan’s reaction to unfolding danger. Whatever they get up to in the famous Milan Lab, some extra work on concentration is required. When Ronaldinho failed to track back with Neville, a yard of space opened and the United captain exploited it to the full, setting the stage for Rooney’s goal.

Preferred to Rafael following the youngster’s chastening experience against Ronaldinho in Lombardy, Neville lifted over a magnificent cross, the dropping perfectly towards the penalty spot where Rooney was lurking with intent. Daniele Bonera had dozed off, gifting Rooney the freedom to make a twisting leap, powering an unstoppable header past Christian Abbiati.
Once again, Rooney’s prolific success up top for United provided further food for thought for Fabio Capello, although the England manager is adamant that Rooney will play in the hole at the World Cup. Rooney is a threat wherever he is fielded but Ferguson clearly believes he is most effective as the front man.

Rooney’s goal made it 4-2 on aggregate, meaning Milan required three.

The Italians might have scored before Rooney struck, Ronaldinho heading wide and then Klaas Jan Huntelaar’s touch letting him down badly. United withstood these early scares, plumped up their cushion through Rooney and looked utterly in control.

No Milan player was allowed to settle in possession, flashes of red dancing like fireflies around them. When Mathieu Flamini lingered on the ball, Paul Scholes came flying in with the type of lengthy run-up usually seen at the other Old Trafford. Perhaps remembering past encounters against United with Arsenal, Flamini wisely jumped out of the way.

Ferguson’s system was working well, United enjoying numbers in midfield where Scholes and Fletcher worked with their customary diligence. Fletcher even tried to enhance United’s lead, sending a shot just wide. Antonio Valencia and the left-sided Nani continued to stretch Milan.

Moments after the restart, Nani showed his threat on the counter, racing away from Ignazio Abate and then playing a sublime ball with the outside of his right foot behind Milan’s defence. Rooney scarcely had to break stride to slide the ball past Abbiati. Ferguson’s half-time instruction to “keep the tempo up’’ had certainly been heeded by the players.

The game won, United’s supporters voiced their anger at the way the American owners, the Glazer family who were present, were running their club. Twirling their green-and-gold scarves above their heads, they chanted “Love United, Hate Glazer’’ incessantly.

The atmosphere was good all evening, despite the lack of a competitive edge on the pitch. Milan could have pulled one back when Abate crossed from the right but Huntelaar headed over. United showed Milan how to finish moments later, following a Valencia dart down the right. When he laid the ball back to Scholes, Milan’s defence was even more of a mess, ripe for the taking. Scholes rolled the ball through to Park, who promptly placed his shot from right to left past poor Abbiati.

The game then turned into a testimonial with a tearful Beckham arriving after 63 minutes, being afforded a hugely emotional reception from United fans and ironic chants of "Fergie, Fergie sign him up". Beckham, his best years long gone, looked overwhelmed by the fans’ reaction.

Ferguson removed Rooney, the footballing equivalent of declaring, confirming the game had ended as a contest.

Beckham, so used to creating chances for United in his pomp, almost fashioned another for them. Underhitting a back-pass, Beckham allowed Nani a run at goal before Milan’s defenders managed to reorganise and thwart Nani.

Beckham, who put on a green and gold scarf after the match, then displayed his more positive side, unleashing a volley that Edwin van der Sar pushed over. Breaking off from saluting Beckham, the Stretford End then unfurled two large 'Love United Hate Glazer' banners. All the while, the percussive sound of their dissent towards the Americans was beat out, including an impassioned chant of "we want Glazer out".

There was more. Milan were so poor and United so good. When Rafael hoisted over a cross from the right, Fletcher headed home the goal his work-rate deserved.'

Amen

Did a Man U fan write that?

Fuck I missed the game was it that bad for Milan!!

^Sounds like it, they started of ok but once Rooney scored the first goal that meant Milan had to score 3 and that was never going to happen