Twenty-four hours after Sir Alex Ferguson had laid bare his fitness concerns for Wayne Rooney, the Manchester United attacker proved the inspiration behind a crucial 1-0 Champions League win against Real Sociedad.
Ferguson was present as Rooney, who celebrates his 28th birthday today, slalomed through the visitors’ defence in the second minute of a thrilling European tie.
And while what proved to be the winning goal was turned into his own net by Inigo Martinez, the credit was all Rooney’s as it was his shot that cannoned off a post and into the hapless defender. Sat in the directors’ box, Ferguson would surely have approved, even more so near the end when Uefa said Rooney had run more than seven miles – well above the team average, underlining exactly how much work he has been doing.
The Scot would have been less happy at the sight of his old team passing up so many chances to seal the win.
Even without Robin van Persie, who missed out with sore toes, United should have been clear long before the end.
Rooney had four more opportunities, and Japan international Shinji Kagawa – making a rare start – two.
Phil Jones’ header was turned away, Javier Hernandez had a goal disallowed for offside and Antonio Valencia struck a post.
So, if Antoine Griezmann or Alberto de la Bella had been slightly more accurate when they hit the woodwork, a nervous panic might have swept round the stadium that could even have silenced the 1,500 inhabitants of the singing section – an experiment surely worth persevering with given the improved atmosphere.
The result means United now have seven points, just three short of the number Ferguson always felt guaranteed qualification for the last 16.
In this troubled start to his tenure, it is a welcome position for David Moyes to find himself in.
Around the same time as Ferguson was speaking in London on Tuesday, Moyes was sat at Old Trafford explaining why Rooney would not be affected by his former manager’s words.
It was clear from the first whistle that the England man was intent on proving the truth of those words.
The only thing wrong with United’s opener was that their number 10 was not credited with it.
After cutting in from the left wing and weaving his way past three defenders before planting his shot against a post, Rooney certainly deserved it.
Instead, the ball bounced back to Martinez, whose attempt to clear was so shockingly bad it ended up in his own goal. No mean feat considering he was on the edge of the six-yard box. A succession of chances came and went for United, with the only worry their profligacy might be punished. It wasn’t and victory was achieved in comfortable style.