man utd 0-1

Independent:

Rooney strike leaves Chelsea's season hanging by a thread

Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1

By Sam Wallace at Stamford Bridge

Abused, charged, demonised, banned. It would be enough to finish most people off. Wayne Rooney? He appears to be thriving on it. As the establishment has closed in on Rooney over the last five days so, at last, we are starting to see the best of him. Last night his goal put Manchester United on course for the treble. Today comes the announcement on his appeal against a two-match ban for naughty language. Rooney the rebel is playing like Rooney again. He was the outstanding performer in a United team who are now favourites to win this Champions League quarter-final when it is concluded on Tuesday night at Old Trafford. They rode their luck last night, especially when the otherwise excellent Spanish referee missed a clear penalty when Patrice Evra brought down Ramires late on. But a familiar pattern is emerging – the pressure is on, and United are getting results. If Rooney is told today that his two-game ban stands – and even if the Football Association chose to extend it – the mood last night was that this United team will kick down any number of doors to get to where they want to be. History is not on Chelsea's side: only twice in the Champions League's history have a team lost the first leg of a knockout tie at home and gone on to reach the next round. As for Rooney, he has scored four goals since Saturday and 10 in his last 12 starts. If some would have him as a national pariah and poster boy for the decline of Britannia then it is a status he wears very lightly indeed. In fact, the way he slid on his knees in front of the Chelsea supporters last night, you might be moved to think he could not really care less. This was not a United team that came to Stamford Bridge to keep it tight for the second leg. They played some of their best football of the season in the first half and, when Chelsea came back at them after the break, the central defensive pairing of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand was the telling factor. Ferdinand had not played since 1 February but he performed like he had never been away. The mediocrity that has blighted United this season was absent last night. Even Michael Carrick came out of his shell and out-shone Frank Lampard. The Chelsea man out-passed his United opponent by 62 to 34 but he did not strike a more telling ball than the one Carrick hit from right to left to Ryan Giggs on 24 minutes to make Rooney's goal. It was that kind of moment that Chelsea could not conjure. They left cursing the Spanish referee, Alberto Mallenco, who blotted an excellent display by missing Evra's lunge on Ramires in time added on at the end of the game. But Chelsea's problems ran deeper than that. They did not create enough either in the 4-4-2 formation in which they started or the 4-3-3 to which they switched as their need became more desperate after the break. There are big decisions facing Carlo Ancelotti come Tuesday, most notably whether Fernando Torres stays in his team for Old Trafford. He persisted with Torres to the end last night and was almost rewarded when the striker stretched Edwin van der Sar with a header in the 74th minute. But it was Didier Drogba who looked the more dangerous until he was substituted on 71 minutes. Torres was booked at the end of the game for the second of two crass dives. In the first half, he had looked as sharp as he had since he joined the club but there was a whiff of desperation about him by the end of the game. Dropping him would be a career-changing decision for Ancelotti. But then going out at Old Trafford would be a career-changing defeat. Before last night Ferguson had not won at Stamford Bridge since April 2002, including that most recent controversial defeat last month. The old boy got it right last night: the right formation, the right tactics, the right attitude. United broke through on 24 minutes. There was that beauty of a ball from Carrick which Giggs pulled out of the air and he then beat Jose Bosingwa in one stupendously skilful movement. For an old man he sure can shift. Giggs went into the box, took one look up and put it on a plate for Rooney to sidefoot in. Rooney had found himself the subject of two unforgiving challenges – the first from Michael Essien, the second from Ramires – before half-time. Harry Redknapp and Peter Crouch will have wished that they could have had a referee on Tuesday in Madrid with the outlook of Mallenco. He held off from booking anyone until Yuri Zhirkov raised a boot to Javier Hernandez on 35 minutes. Torres had flickered before then but in the second half it was more about Drogba. It was his cross that Ramires steered wide. It was Drogba's overhead kick that just missed. And it was Drogba who bullied Evra, easing the United full-back out of the way on two occasions around the hour mark. Yet when Ancelotti made the inevitable attacking change on 71 minutes – Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda on – it was Drogba who came off, not Torres. United had already lost Rafael da Silva to injury, which brought Nani into the game and meant the impressive Antonio Valencia was moved back to play at right-back. Chelsea changed to 4-3-3 and Ferguson followed suit. He brought on Dimitar Berbatov, moved Rooney to the left and Nani to the right and matched Chelsea's system. The pressure became most intensive towards the end but aside from Torres's header and then Evra's challenge on Ramires, United held their opponents at arm's length. The penalty appeal that was waved aside was a big call. There was a hint that Evra's challenge started outside the box but either way it was a foul. Ancelotti needs a bit of luck in that respect, but most of all he needs goals from Torres or someone else. Chelsea have to score at Old Trafford and there is an unmistakably daunting look about their opponents.

Ending the Bridge jinx

It was Manchester United's first victory at the Bridge for nine years. The last was a 3-0 league win on 20 April 2002. The goals then came from Paul Scholes, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – and Denis Irwin was on the bench.

Man of the match: Rooney. Match rating: 8/10. Referee: A U Mallenco (Sp). Attendance: 37,915. ========================================= Guardian: Wayne Rooney proves the curse of Chelsea as Manchester United grab win Champions Lge Q/F, First Leg

Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1 Rooney 24

Kevin McCarra at Stamford Bridge

These are two clubs whose modern histories are entangled but Manchester United have made significant progress in separating themselves from Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-final. Considering that Sir Alex Ferguson's side was supposed to face an ordeal at Stamford Bridge, the victory was achieved with few histrionics. The fact that Wayne Rooney scored the goal was almost taken for granted, highlighting the return to form that has ended debate about his effectiveness, if not his occasional excitability before a microphone. This would not have been an authentic engagement between these clubs, all the same, if there were not some angst. Chelsea ought to have had the opportunity to level eventually but the Spanish referee, Alberto Mallenco, saw no penalty in stoppage time although Patrice Evra took Ramires rather than the ball. Moments later the official fished for his yellow card when Fernando Torres appeared to dive in his hope of a spot-kick. The Spain centre-forward is still to score for the club following the £50m transfer from Liverpool but it is not to be assumed that he must resort to underhand means to end the wait. With a quarter of an hour remaining, he rose to meet a cross by José Bosingwa with a fine header but Edwin van der Sar pawed it away and so showed his own quality. In principle a quarter-final in this tournament ought to be a clash of excellence but, when teams are so familiar with one another, the risk of deadlock is high. Although the tone of the action suggested parity, Rooney divided the sides. He now has seven goals from his past eight outings with the club. That impact is almost taken for granted but he had scored only twice for United from the opening of the season until the end of 2010. That was a supposed crisis that now has to be rebranded as a curio. Apart from the intrinsic trouble of repeating last year's 2-1 win at Old Trafford, Chelsea will be taking on opponents who have started to sense their own strength. Ferguson would have been appalled at times by the attrition rate but he did not embark on prolonged lamentation that would have undermined the confidence of those who would feel they were being selected only out of necessity. At present some United figures are getting back into condition and there was no indication against Chelsea that Rio Ferdinand, sidelined by a calf injury since 1 February, was any sort of convalescent. Much as the defender's reassuring presence was appreciated, Ferguson had selected a team with the means to attack. That approach had ended in defeat here in the Premier League last month but United had been unlucky after seeming in control for much of the evening. Once again the manager picked a pair of forwards in Javier Hernández and Rooney. Now, too, the visitors took the lead and, on this occasion, retained it thanks to better work in defence. After 24 minutes Michael Carrick swept a splendid pass to Ryan Giggs on the left, with the veteran controlling the ball and leaving Bosingwa for dead with one perfect touch before Rooney slotted the finish home off the inside of the post. It had been a masterful piece of work by United and nothing less than such a moment could have overcome the intense concentration of each team. Suddenly the scorn over the new contract provided for Carrick was quelled, for the time being at any rate. The mood was taut. Strained feelings were unavoidable in teams who have shared and made history in modern times. There is certainly a fixation with their encounter in the 2008 Champions League final. All the same, it is difficult to tell whether it is the players or simply those who keep asking about the penalty shoot-out who are obsessed with that night in Moscow. Talk of revenge is particularly odd since United did no more than win a match. Chelsea may have been desolate but they were not wronged. During the build-up to this encounter, Ferguson would have been sincere in the admiration he expressed for the Stamford Bridge manager, Carlo Ancelotti, while aghast at the idea of such a figure being sacked, but the comments also implied that United were pitted against a less stable club. Even so, the Chelsea players themselves could easily have been on solid ground in the 45th minute, had a Didier Drogba cross from the left not come off a post. When Lampard attempted to prod the ball home Evra was able to clear. Any benefit Chelsea took from the incident lay in the proof that it was feasible to break the visitors. The notion was bolstered soon after the interval when Ramires was free to connect with a Drogba cross but the header flew off target. The Ivorian who supplied the set-up work was also to be involved in a collision that saw Rafael da Silva carried off on a stretcher with United pulling Antonio Valencia back to the right of the defence and utilising the substitute Nani on the wing. Alterations may have been enforced but nothing could disrupt United on their way to victory. =========================================================

Telegraph:

Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1 By Jason Burt, Stamford Bridge

Carlo Ancelotti had talked about Chelsea’s destiny to win the Champions League this season but there was only one man shaping fate on Wednesday night: Wayne Rooney. He has raged against fortune in recent days – in the past year, to be honest – but on Wednesday he was here, he was there, he was everywhere; and for the right reasons. This wasn’t about foul language this was about letting your football do the talking. This was about the player everyone wants Rooney to be and what he is capable of being. This was about cleaning up his act and cleaning up. Sir Alex Ferguson wanted an away goal and Rooney provided it to give United a grip on a place in the last four while loosening Ancelotti’s hold on his own position. This competition means everything for him and for his Chelsea future. Destiny calls. He cannot see his team drop out impotently and will have to provide a fierce challenge at Old Trafford next week. Is it beyond this team? Quite possibly so and if that is Roman Abramovich’s conclusion then the manager will go. Chelsea will argue that there was another man who played with fate, the referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco. The man from Pamplona faced a raging bull – well, an angry Italian – in Ancelotti after wrongly waving away penalty appeals when Patrice Evra sliced down Ramires in the 92nd minute. Given how the fates have conspired against Chelsea over the years in this competition they will feel another serious grievance although Ferguson brushed it aside abruptly, claiming it was the first decision which had gone his side’s way in seven years at Stamford Bridge. Seven is indeed a lucky number; although not for Ramires. There was a wonderful save from Edwin Van der Sar, also, stretching his 6ft five and a half inch frame to its full extension to twist and push out Fernando Torres’s header but this was another evening of disappointment for the striker, still yet to score a goal, and booked in the dying moments for a clear dive as he desperately tried to earn a penalty of his own. It brought a ringing rebuke from Ferguson that he was a diver. In truth, United were well worth this victory and it is remarkable how Ferguson squeezes performances at this time of the season out of players who have struggled previously. Michael Carrick would fall into that category as he controlled the midfield cleverly while Ji-Sung Park’s return has brought discipline. Ferguson was able to call on Rio Ferdinand, also, for the first time since Feb 5, and his experience counted alongside Nemanja Vidic, who was the formidable defender he can be. They even brushed aside the loss of Rafael to deploy Antonio Valencia at right-back in another sign of their durability. The problem for Chelsea was pace, or lack of it. They were simply unable to move the ball forward quickly enough and, as ever, Ancelotti is suffering the fate of many a Chelsea manager in trying to shoe-horn big-names into a starting XI. There was also the embarrassment of Didier Drogba feigning that Ferdinand had elbowed him when the United defender brushed his arm against the striker’s face. United’s goal came early and gave definition to their counter-attacking intent. Rafael regained possession and scampered into the Chelsea half, allowing the ball to run to Valencia who quickly rolled it back to Carrick. The midfielder swept it cross-field to Ryan Giggs and the key to the goal came as his superb first-touch took him away from Jose Bosingwa to cut the ball back. Rooney was there, opening his body to side-foot the ball in off the far post. The striker studiously ignored the cameras with his celebrations, but pointed one finger in the air and threw himself to the turf in delight. For Chelsea it was a soft concession and they struggled to provide a response. Drogba had already had a rising drive pushed over by Van der Sar while Torres had mis-timed a volley but they were being pushed back by their opponents. Incredibly they then almost scored with Drogba tricking his way past Rafael and crossing for Torres who failed to make contact but distracted Van der Sar enough for the goalkeeper to allow the ball to strike the far post and bounce back out. It fell to Lampard. Surely, on his 500th appearance, he would score? But the midfielder half-hit his half-volley. Even so, it would have been a goal had Evra not been there to turn it away. It would have given the scoreline an imbalance but Chelsea were gradually able to apply pressure. Ramires headed wide from another Drogba centre and then the striker sent an acrobatic overhead kick narrowly across goal before a headed clearance fell to Michael Essien, who volleyed low and past the post. It did not amount to a great deal of momentum and with Vidic, in particular, repelling the massing blue shirts the frustration of the home supporters grew. United rallied and snapped back, pressing higher up the field with Javier Hernandez working tirelessly up front to close down and harry and Rooney putting out fires all over the field – rather than being the man fanning the flames. Half-chances did fall to Chelsea but Van der Sar expertly held Lampard’s deflected free-kick and a weak shot from Branislav Ivanovic after a careering run. Then came the penalty claim but it wasn’t to be. United didn’t just have the goal; they had the clean sheet and the victory. ============================================ Mail: Chelsea 0 Manchester United 1:

Rooney the hero for Fergie as United claim advantage in quarter-final showdown

By Matt Lawton Chief Football Correspondent

Reporting from Stamford Bridge

It is on nights like this when these Manchester United players deliver.When Wayne Rooney reminds us why his employers took a sledgehammer to their wage structure to keep him.When Rio Ferdinand defies all logic and delivers a colossal performance on his first appearance in more than two months. When Edwin van der Sar throws himself across the six-yard box like a goalkeeper half his age. And when Ryan Giggs forgets he, too, is now getting on a bit and plays like the winger who once terrorised right backs across Europe. Even if they have an advantage in this fiercely contested tie because of a referee’s failure to spot a clear penalty for Chelsea in stoppage time, United deserved the precious away goal they takeback to Old Trafford. Just as they deserved their first win here at Stamford Bridge in nine years.They were terrific; as defiant as Sir Alex Ferguson has been in the face of so much criticism thesepast few weeks and as determined as ever, proving once again that success has not spoiled them; that they remain as hungry as a manager who at one point turned to United’s supporters and demanded they raise the decibel level another notch.No wonder Ferguson so adores Giggs. Whatever his secret, be it the yoga he practises to keep those aging muscles supple or the ultra-professional attitude that has allowed him to break all thoserecords, the Welshman is becoming something of a modern medical phenomenon. Ferguson deployed him in central midfield here, but the burst of speed he produced to race pastJose Bosingwa and deliver the ball that enabled Rooney to land that 24th-minute blow was amazing.Freakish almost.But Giggs was not alone in impressing. Not even close given the composure of Ferdinand, the class of Rooney and the enduring excellence of Van der Sar. The athletic dive he produced to push aFernando Torres header to safety in the second half was magnificent. The man is 40, for crying out loud. Chelsea, by comparison, were disappointing. They might argue they unleashed more shots on goal than their opponents and they will consider Alberto Mallenco’s mistake in missing Patrice Evra’s foul on Ramires further evidence that they are jinxed in this competition.Carlo Ancelotti is sure to feel the football gods are conspiring against him when he may need to win this competition to save his neck and, like his players, he was angry. But they fell short where Unitedstood tall. That one decent header aside, Torres produced another stuttering performance, memorable only for the dives that earned him one yellow card when it could have been two.While Didier Drogba worked tirelessly before Ancelotti took the surprising decision to hook him, rather than the Spaniard, the partnership with Torres struggled against Ferdinand and the equallyformidable Nemanja Vidic. In midfield, too, Chelsea lacked the required spark. Frank Lampard and Michael Essien competed well enough with Giggs and Michael Carrick but the only contribution of note from Ramires — prior, ofcourse, to the penalty claim — and Yuri Zhirkov were the challenges that earned punishment from Mallenco and had Ferguson raging.With the selection of Rooney and Javier Hernandez in attack, Ferguson intended to keep John Terry and his defensive colleagues busy, even if the selection of grafters in Park Ji-sung and Antonio Valencia on the flanks also suggested the United manager was playing it fairly safe.Ferdinand wasted no time in demonstrating Ferguson might have been preparing him all along forthis game, denying Torres with a superb interception. Chelsea saw Rooney as the danger man. There were naughty, studs-up challenges from Essien and then from Ramires, both of them leaving Rooney on the ground writhing in apparent agony. But that did not stop the England striker scoring with a fine first-time finish, initially thanks to Carrick’s diagonal ball but more so because of the brilliance of Giggs.It was astonishing, the sight of Giggs controlling Carrick’s 40-yard pass and accelerating beyond Bosingwa in one glorious movement before delivering the ball to Rooney. Positioned close to the penalty spot, Rooney calmly slotted his shot beyond the reach of Petr Cech and in off the far post.Further foul challenges followed — with Zhirkov picking up a belated first booking for a crunching tackle on Hernandez — as did the sight of Torres diving in desperation.And when Rafael came off second best in a collision with Drogba after the break, Ferguson was forced to make a change that put more pressure on Ferdinand and his colleagues. He had to move Valencia to right back and deploy Nani on the wing. Before that, Chelsea had gone desperately close to equalising. Having escaped the clutches of Ferdinand and Rafael, Drogba sent in a cross that missed an advancing Torres but also bounced beyond Van der Sar, off the far post and into the path of Lampard.He, in turn, did well to get in a shot when he was off balance but his effort was cleared off the line by Evra before Carrick blocked his second attempt. It was courageous defending, even if Chelsea could count themselves unfortunate.Nothing, however, compared to the sense of injustice in the dying minutes after Evra came in from the wrong side to take Ramires as well as the ball. It sparked ugly scenes at the end, Mallenco being shoved after booking Torres for diving. Ancelotti felt the need to order his players away from the official when the final whistle went — only for the Chelsea boss to then remonstrate himself, painfully aware now of the pressure he will be under next week.

MATCH FACTS Chelsea (4-4-2):Cech; Bosingwa (Mikel 78min), Ivanovic, Terry, Cole; Ramires, Essien, Lampard, Zhirkov (Malouda 70); Drogba (Anelka 71), Torres.

Subs not used: Turnbull, Ferreira, Benayoun, Kalou.Booked: Zhirkov, Ramires, Essien,Torres.

Manchester United (4-4-2):Van der Sar; Rafael (Nani 51), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Park (Smalling 90), Giggs; Rooney, Hernandez (Berbatov 78).

Subs not used: Kuszczak, Evans, Scholes, Gibson.Booked: Vidic, Van der Sar. Man of the match: Wayne Rooney. Referee: Alberto Mallenco (Sp). =========================================== Sun:

Chelsea 0 Man Utd 1

By SHAUN CUSTIS

YOU just knew Wayne Rooney would f****** score.

The United striker, who copped an FA ban for swearing into a TV camera at the weekend, did all his talking on the pitch this time to earn his side a vital edge in this Champions League quarter-final. But it was Chelsea doing the cursing at the end after they had a stone-wall penalty shout rejected when Patrice Evra lunged in on Ramires. If the TV men had shoved a camera and microphone in front of each Blues player at the same moment, there would have been 11 of them up on a charge this morning. It was a shocking decision by Spanish referee Alberto Mallenco although there was no argument that United had been the better side with Rooney's clinical 24th-minute finish following great work by Ryan Giggs proving the difference. Rio Ferdinand was also outstanding at the back for United on his return after two months out with a calf injury and midfielder Michael Carrick had one of his best games in a red shirt. Chelsea might have forced a draw before the penalty appeal but Frank Lampard - on his 500th appearance for the club - had a shot hacked off the line by Evra. And Edwin van der Sar, battling a groin injury, made a superb flying save to keep out a header from Fernando Torres. That effort apart, it was another miserable night for Torres who failed to justify his inclusion ahead of Nicolas Anelka. He has now gone 617 minutes for Chelsea without a goal. There is a rumour that the busy FA disciplinary department might charge Liverpool with bringing the game into disrepute . . . for nicking £50million off Chelsea. It was a surprise that Torres started and an even bigger surprise that Didier Drogba was subbed while the Spaniard stayed on midway through the second half. Drogba, who gave it everything, was as dumfounded as the rest of us when his number went up and not that of his strike partner. The Ivory Coast front-man so wants to win this competition, especially after he lost his head railing against injustice in the semi-final against Barcelona at the Bridge two years ago and got suspended for four European games. Drogba resisted the temptation to pile into the referee again last night, but he must have had to bite his tongue very hard. This result was not good news for Carlo Ancelotti's future prospects because owner Roman Abramovich has made the Champions League his priority and it is slipping away again. United had not won at Stamford Bridge for nine years but looked in the mood from the off. Both Michael Essien and Ramires tried to kick Rooney out of it but, after Drogba had a shot from wide on the right tipped over by Van der Sar, Rooney struck. Carrick played a 40-yard pass out to the left and evergreen Giggs took it on first time and burst past Jose Bosingwa. The Welshman took a quick look up and pulled the ball back for Rooney who steered his shot away from Petr Cech and in off the right post then went on a celebration run towards the corner flag. For one moment Rooney seemed to be heading in the direction of a TV cameraman behind the goal. But before he could get himself into even more trouble the United striker tumbled to the ground and raised his arms in delight. Sensible move for a change. United had the away goal boss Alex Ferguson demanded but the home side should have equalised on half-time. Drogba curled in a ball which was missed by Torres but still beat Van der Sar, only to hit the far post. Lampard followed up and seemed certain to score from close range but Evra brilliantly cleared off the line and United scrambled the ball away. Ancelotti's men had another chance just after the break when Evra fell over by the touchline and Drogba got away. The cross was good but Ramires made a mess of the header and guided the ball wide. Chelsea were playing better now and the ever-determined Drogba's overhead kick was not too far wide. It would have been nice to see Torres putting in the same effort as his hard-working team-mate. With 20 minutes left Ancelotti sent on Anelka and Florent Malouda, but incredibly Drogba was one of those who made way rather than Torres. The Spaniard did have a looping header superbly pushed away by Van der Sar. Then, in added time, Ramires got away and was bearing down on goal only to have his legs taken away by Frenchman Evra. Ref Mallenco was not interested and you wonder what an earth the fifth - or is that sixth - official was doing beside the goal. Just to rub it in, Torres went down in the area two minutes later and was booked for diving. Fergie said it was about time United got a break at Chelsea. The Blues would argue it is time they got a break in the Champions League. ======================================== Mirror:

Chelsea 0-1 Man United: Rooney on target as Torres nightmare continues

By Martin Lipton

Another victory, chiseled out rather than beautifully crafted. Another goal for the man who cannot stay out of the headlines, Wayne Rooney demonstrating his incalculable value with the goal that puts United on course for the Champions League semi-finals again. And as Chelsea moaned and groaned at the injustices of the world once more, another day in the continuing nightmare that is Fernando Torres’ Chelsea career. Where Rooney, it seems, cannot stop scoring, profiting from the time-defying brilliance of Ryan Giggs, Torres simply does not know where to start. Even when he does do the right thing, it will not work. Nine appearances, 618 minutes without a goal. While he was denied by a superb Edwin Van Der Sar save, the blatant dive that brought an injury-time booking said everything about his desperation. This was the sort of game Torres was bought for. Roman Abramovich sanctioned the £50million fee because he convinced himself the Spaniard would be the man to make the search for the Holy Grail successful at last. Yet with every passing game, Torres starts to look more and more like Abramovich’s most extravagant vanity purchase, even more than Andriy Shevchenko, whose arrival helped disrupt the seemingly relentless momentum of Jose Mourinho’s team. It seems clear that Carlo Ancelotti cannot take Torres off in a game that matters, aware of the retribution that could come his way. But if Chelsea’s hunt for silverware ends on Tuesday, as seems so likely now, then the Italian is surely a dead man walking in any event. The price of perceived failure at the Bridge is high. And if Torres is worth £50m, then what price would Sir Alex Ferguson put on Rooney’s head? Four days after turning the air blue at the other end of the District Line, Rooney - along with Spanish referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco - left Chelsea swearing in anger and pain. The injury-time decision of the whistler to ignore Patrice Evra’s blatant foul on Ramires, a nailed on spot-kick, was the talking point as far as the home fans and players were concerned. Yet even so, Rooney had already given United a priceless away goal and the decision that infuriated Chelsea meant his contribution earned United their first win in this corner of SW6 since 2002. Rooney may have demonstrated the negative side of his character with that snarling, four letter response to his hat-trick penalty at Upton Park. But that cannot and must not hide the talent that underpins everything, explains why Fergie will always defend his star asset. When Michael Carrick spotted Giggs lurking unmarked, wide on the left, with a superb cross-field ball that cut out the Achilles heel that is always Jose Bosingwa, Rooney was already on the move. Giggs exploded into the space, 10 years taken off his age in the blink of an eye, pulling back to find Rooney angling his body to steer side-footed in off the post. No abuse to the cameras this time, just an eskimo roll of triumph, the moment of conviction that summed up a performance that overflowed with that sheer brio, as Rooney dropped off to make the extra man in midfield and give United far more poise and balance. Chelsea did have chances. Rio Ferdinand, back after an 11-match break and looking as if he’d played every week, beat Torres at the near post, Didier Drogba’s shot was turned over the top and in first half stoppage time they should have been level. Drogba worked space away from Ferdinand and curled in. Torres lunged but made no contact as the ball ran through to hit the post and come back to Frank Lampard, starting to celebrate even as Evra cleared off the line. The second half was balanced, United - with Nani on for the crocked Rafael and Antonio Valencia the emergency right-back - playing on the counter as Chelsea pressed. Drogba, outmuscling Evra, crossed for Ramires to head wide, the muscularity of the African making Ancelotti’s decision to hook him rather than Torres with 20 minutes left even more inexplicable in football terms. Torres, pulling away at the far post to meet Bosingwa’s cross, might have vindicated Ancelotti when his fine header was clawed away by the diving Van Der Sar, who then held efforts by Lampard and Branislav Ivanovic. The real drama followed in stoppage time. Ramires, in behind Evra, was brought down by the Frenchman only for the referee to deem nothing wrong. Then Torres was cautioned for diving, Ramires pushing the referee and lucky to escape any sanction, the incidents adding to home fury. There was no salvation. United will be thinking of Schalke. Chelsea were left destitute. Torres remains in despair.