ENGLISH FA CUP QUARTER-FINALS: Fulham 0 Manchester Utd 4GIVEN ALEX Ferguson readily admits he no longer knows his best starting XI, it is unwise to second-guess Manchester United selections but, with Internazionale due on Wednesday, the hunt for clues was on long before this stroll had ended.
The visit to Old Trafford of the Serie A leaders for the second leg of the Champions League last-16 tie represents arguably the biggest obstacle in United’s quest for an unprecedented haul of trophies and precisely how Ferguson will attempt to unpick the Italians, with the scoreline blank at San Siro, is the burning issue.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Dimitar Berbatov can be expected to start after neither featured against Fulham – Ronaldo was given the weekend off – but Ferguson appears to face a choice between Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney, the stars of the show here, for the other attacking berth in his favoured European formation.
But Park Ji-sung, as he did at San Siro, may yet relegate both to the bench. The South Korean was also outstanding here as United advanced into a record 26th FA Cup semi-final.
The decision is vexing for Ferguson. None of the trio deserves to be stood down, particularly Tevez. Yet the writing was on the substitutes’ board for the Argentinian just after the hour. At United these days it is as much a question of the minutes you do not play as those you do and, with 26 effectively dead ones remaining, it was Rooney who was taken off to rest. Tevez stayed on for the 90.
Ferguson had replaced John O’Shea, who picked up a slight hamstring strain, after Rooney’s goal, mindful that Wes Brown, Gary Neville and Rafael da Silva, his other options at right-back, were out with ankle problems while his other change was Jonny Evans for Rio Ferdinand at half-time.
Ferdinand had turned his right ankle in the 41st minute and was described by Ferguson as a “concern” for Wednesday, after suffering some swelling and leaving in a protective boot. There is full confidence in the dressingroom, however, at Evans’s capacity to deputise. “Tevez was a jack-in-the-box all day,” Ferguson said. “He used so much great energy, on the ball and with his movement. His second goal was fantastic. My biggest concern is picking the right team and I’m leaving out great players all the time and that is not easy for me.
“I hope by the end of the year we all recognise that everyone has made a great contribution. Rooney played last Wednesday (at Newcastle United), he’s just back from a hamstring injury and I couldn’t take any chances. We need him for Wednesday. That is why we took him off.
“I’m very happy for Carlos because it is not easy for him,” added the left-back Patrice Evra, who is one of Tevez’ closest friends at the club. “He does not play every game but, when the boss puts him on the pitch, he is a different class.”
Ferguson needs no reminding about his dismal record against sides managed by Jose Mourinho. In 13 competitive meetings he has mustered only one victory. Internazionale will play a patient, counter-attacking game, defined also by physical robustness. They know just how priceless an away goal could be.
The tie rests on a knife-edge. But United, whose only defeat since early November was against Derby County in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final, which was put right in the return, resemble a juggernaut. There is a remorselessness about them and confidence courses through all those associated with the club. Their travelling fans teased Rooney by asking, “What the hell was that?” after he hit a post from close range when it was more difficult to miss. It was only 1-0 at the time.
“We feel we can win all five,” said Park, on the prospect of the quintuple. “We know how easy it is to make mistakes and go out of competitions, like we did in the FA Cup against Portsmouth (last season). This time we won’t make those mistakes again. We have a stronger squad and we are more concentrated . . . Now we are even more confident.”
Fulham flickered with the game goalless but Tevez’ first prompted United to move through the gears. “This United team is as good as anything I’ve seen,” said the Fulham manager, Roy Hodgson, who, as a former Internazionale manager, will take a special interest in Wednesday’s showdown. “I’m afraid the Craven Cottage pitch is not very good,” he added, “yet the quality of United’s technique was quite fantastic. When they get into the lead, whether it’s Fulham or Inter, it’s very difficult to get back into it.”
GuardianService
