So with a confident and commanding victory against Club Brugge, Wednesday night was not just the return of Wayne Rooney on the scoresheet but also the return of Manchester United to the Champions League. Here are four things we learned:
United’s defence shone again
It seems to get written after every game but this is a United defence that just won’t concede a goal. It’s a stark contrast to last season with the defensive players being frequently changed (as well as the formation) van Gaal has found a sturdy back four that can play week in week out. The only shot on target from Brugge tonight coming from Blind switching off for a second to allow Diaby with a one on one with Romero who made himself big and pawed the ball away not one but twice to keep yet another clean sheet for United.
Rooney silenced the naysayers
When almost every newspaper was writing Rooney off, questioning if he was too old or still had the talent required to score goals, what a night to score a hat-trick. His composure to dink his first one right over the keeper and the calmness to slot in his third showed this lad has plenty left to give. He could have easily added a fourth or fifth if not for a terrific save from the Brugge keeper or for letting Hernandez take (and miss) the penalty late on. With his confidence sky high now, expect big things this Sunday against Swansea.
The front four clicked perfectly
Earlier I had wrote about how United could have improved from their first leg and one of the ways I mentioned was better service from the forwards and that’s exactly what happened. With Januzaj struggling to make an impact, he was taken off at half-time with Herrera moving up the pitch to fill that number ten role and oh did it change the tempo of the game. While Rooney was scoring his hat trick, each one of his goals was set up and assisted by Memphis, Herrera and Mata. It looked much more like a team that has had time to gel together and looked as deadly as they were organised.
Hernandez could be on his way out
What a night to forget for the Mexican international. In a game that was well and truly over when he was brought on, Chicharito had the opportunity to get his name on the score sheet when goals and chances were flying in left, right and centre. As well as the chance to show Louis van Gaal what he could do amid rumours that West Ham are interested in the forward.
Instead of taking it himself, Rooney allowed Hernandez to step up to the penalty spot only to slip and put it wide. Embarrassing but these things happen, especially when it’s been raining. However it was the cross from Ashley Young that he only had to tap in with the keeper beat and somehow sent it so high you’d have thought it left the stadium. With Giggs and van Gaal sharing a dubious glare afterwards, the fate of this former United favourite is even more in question.
