Well the result wasn't what the doctor ordered after the disappointment of Tuesday night's exit from this years champions league trophy, but given the way the game went, i'll settle for us still being in the hat for the semi final against City. Even though we got off to that sensational start, it was obvious from pretty early on, we weren't on top of our game, passes were under hit and over hit, and as the game went on it didn't get any better. Fortunately Chelsea weren't any better for the first 45 minutes and were poor at the back, that second goal was a pretty soft one to give away.
Unfortunately as the excertions of Tuesday night began to show themselves in the second half, and our players tired, Chelsea's game improved and they started to take advantage. It didn't help that Nani, once again didn't last the 45 minutes. Recent events sum up his luck at the moment. He was up there as one of our best performers, until sent off against Real Madrid, and yesterday he was again one off our better players, sending in some undefendable crosses, until a hamstring injury saw him substituted just before half time. It didn't help our cause, that his replacement Tony Valencia, then proceeded to give us possibly his worst performance in a red shirt and couldn't provide our tired midfield and defence any kind of outlet from the pressure Chelsea began to put us under. I'm beginning to wonder whether we have seen the best of Valencia in a United shirt, his confidence seems so shot at the moment, it's hard to ever see him destroying Ashley Cole again, the way he has done more than once, in the past.
Another worry was Cleverley's inability to match the physical effort needed against Chelsea that he was able to deliver on Tuesday night. It looks like Fergie has got it right when he drops him out every now and then for a couple of games. The problem was, with no Scholes, Jones and Giggs rested, that leaves just Anderson and Fergie obviously didn't fancy the Brazillian in a big game. I don't blame him for that. as neither do i, but it begs the question as to why Anderson is still at the club. Yesterday would have been an ideal game for Jones, no way would we have been as over ran as we were in the second half, if he had been available even on the bench.
To be honest, when they got that second goal to level the game, i would have settled for the draw right there and then as their was only one team going to win the game from there on in, and they weren't playing in red. I struggle to remember us creating a reasonable chance in the second half. Van Perise couldn't really lift us when he came on and i thought Welbeck came on too late.
The consensus amongst the press was that Rooney gave a decent rseponse to his axing from the team on Tyesday night, whilst i don't think he had a poor game, his performance didn't exactly convince me that Fergie was wrong to leave him out against Real. What's really become noticeable the longer this season has gone on, is how that old burst of acceleration that was once such a big feature of his game has completely vanished. He hardly ever goes past a man anymore, i don't know whether he's just lost it, or doesn't want it enough anymore. He's nowhere near the same player without it, is all i can say. If we were offered anything above £20 million for him this summer, i'm afraid i'm coming to the conclusion we would be mad to turn it down.
Anyway we are still in the FA cup and one thing is for sure, we will not play as badly as that in the replay. That unbelievable save from De Gea in the dying seconds for Mata could still ensure that we get a trip to Wembley at least once this season. I thought their celebrations at the full time whistle were a touch over the top, United were there for the taking in that second half, and they couldn't finish us off. We had to travel down to the bridge for a quarter final replay in the treble season and gave one of our best away performances of the season, so i live in hope.
Unfortunately as the excertions of Tuesday night began to show themselves in the second half, and our players tired, Chelsea's game improved and they started to take advantage. It didn't help that Nani, once again didn't last the 45 minutes. Recent events sum up his luck at the moment. He was up there as one of our best performers, until sent off against Real Madrid, and yesterday he was again one off our better players, sending in some undefendable crosses, until a hamstring injury saw him substituted just before half time. It didn't help our cause, that his replacement Tony Valencia, then proceeded to give us possibly his worst performance in a red shirt and couldn't provide our tired midfield and defence any kind of outlet from the pressure Chelsea began to put us under. I'm beginning to wonder whether we have seen the best of Valencia in a United shirt, his confidence seems so shot at the moment, it's hard to ever see him destroying Ashley Cole again, the way he has done more than once, in the past.
Another worry was Cleverley's inability to match the physical effort needed against Chelsea that he was able to deliver on Tuesday night. It looks like Fergie has got it right when he drops him out every now and then for a couple of games. The problem was, with no Scholes, Jones and Giggs rested, that leaves just Anderson and Fergie obviously didn't fancy the Brazillian in a big game. I don't blame him for that. as neither do i, but it begs the question as to why Anderson is still at the club. Yesterday would have been an ideal game for Jones, no way would we have been as over ran as we were in the second half, if he had been available even on the bench.
To be honest, when they got that second goal to level the game, i would have settled for the draw right there and then as their was only one team going to win the game from there on in, and they weren't playing in red. I struggle to remember us creating a reasonable chance in the second half. Van Perise couldn't really lift us when he came on and i thought Welbeck came on too late.
The consensus amongst the press was that Rooney gave a decent rseponse to his axing from the team on Tyesday night, whilst i don't think he had a poor game, his performance didn't exactly convince me that Fergie was wrong to leave him out against Real. What's really become noticeable the longer this season has gone on, is how that old burst of acceleration that was once such a big feature of his game has completely vanished. He hardly ever goes past a man anymore, i don't know whether he's just lost it, or doesn't want it enough anymore. He's nowhere near the same player without it, is all i can say. If we were offered anything above £20 million for him this summer, i'm afraid i'm coming to the conclusion we would be mad to turn it down.
Anyway we are still in the FA cup and one thing is for sure, we will not play as badly as that in the replay. That unbelievable save from De Gea in the dying seconds for Mata could still ensure that we get a trip to Wembley at least once this season. I thought their celebrations at the full time whistle were a touch over the top, United were there for the taking in that second half, and they couldn't finish us off. We had to travel down to the bridge for a quarter final replay in the treble season and gave one of our best away performances of the season, so i live in hope.
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