Schalke 0 Manchester 2
Neuer 0 United 2
Neu boys 0 Veterans 2
“Make no mistake, Schalke will fancy themselves tonight.”
– Co-commentator Graeme Souness.
They didn\’t, Graeme.
The Bundesliga team that had gone to the San Siro and thrashed Inter 5-2 just didn\’t fancy themselves last night.
That was the problem.
Having won all five of their Champions League home games, Schalke were overawed and overwhelmed.
Raul was never seen, Farfan rarely.
When Valencia crossed after eight minutes, United had four red shirts in scoring positions.
The Red Devils oozed authority and know-how, with Carrick playmaking from deep, unimpeded, free to do what he liked with the ball.
They created 10 chances in a first half in which the mountainous Manuel Neuer made great saves from Rooney, Hernandez, a Giggs header, Hernandez again, then stopped a Giggs header.
All through the first half, as United sliced through Schalke, Neuer, 25, was making save after save for his hometown club. He’s six foot four and a half and his size, presence and agility reminded everybody of the awesome Peter Schmeichel.
Second half, the Mexican finally beat Neuer but he was a yard offside, Vidic made a magnificent clearing header after Fabio had conceded a free kick on the right flank, then Giggs scored from a pass by Rooney in 67, and Roo slotted from a pass by Hernandez in 69.
After that, United cruised home.
Sir Alex’s side were drawing on every ounce of nous they had – and that allowed them to command the game from start to finish.
Collective confidence, know-how, control, good habits, energetic movement, width – United had it all last night.
Rooney made 53 passes with 83% completion.
For a Champions League semi-final, that\’s not bad.
Sky pundit Steve McClaren, who managed Wolfsburg till last December, was quite right to say that the blend and balance United have found, with Park and Valencia wide and working back, with Rooney feeding Hernandez and Giggs, worked very well.
Any playmaker needs fast, perceptive runs to give him options. And those runs give the man on the ball the space to dribble and shoot himself, if he wants to.
At his best, Rooney is a very good judge of when to pass or dribble or shoot. And this was almost the best Wayne Rooney we\’ve seen since he exploded onto the world stage during Euro 2004.
Sir Alex\’s former No 2 said, “When you’re a No.10, you need runners.â€
Ask Bergkamp. He had Wrighty, Anelka, Overmars, Freddie and Thierry making runs for him.
Having won all five of their previous CL home games, Schalke were overawed and that made it was the most one-sided semi-final game I have ever seen in Europe .
This was Manchester United\’s 12th Champions League semi-final and their current defensive record is astonishing.
In six trips to Valencia, Bursaspor, Rangers, Marseilles, Chelsea and Schalke, United have not conceded a goal.
Brian Clough would be proud of that. So would Bob Paisley