SOCCER:Rooney will dominate the headlines, but an honorary mention should go to Carrick, writes DANIEL TAYLOR

THEY HISSED and they booed. They targeted him with their vitriol and they hoped he would react. But in those moments when Wayne Rooney took the ball and drove forward there was always that split second when the volume turned down on the Chelsea crowd. It was the silence that fear and apprehension can bring.

Sometimes you can tell very quickly with Rooney that he is playing at the point of maximum expression and this was one of those nights when his eyes were fixed with intent. He was an elusive opponent, dropping back, appearing out wide, bursting through the middle. He chased back into his own half after one corner had been cleared. At one point he could even be seen clearing the ball from inside his own penalty area.

Perhaps the traumas of the last few days have steeled his mind. Maybe, knowing Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager had used it to gee up his player. A scene can easily be imagined whereby Ferguson instructed his striker to remind the watching public that, whatever controversies attach to him, however hostile the headlines, he can be revered as an outstanding footballer.

Yes, at times you wonder whether Rooney was born with his brains in his feet, but it is always preferable to be discussing the footballer rather than the firebrand. Rooney was exceptional on a night when United demonstrated a clear gulf between themselves and their hosts.

They had not won at Stamford Bridge in their previous 10 matches, a run dating back to April 2002. Yet there was never been any sense of a team tiptoeing out on their bogey ground. Here’s the thing about Manchester United: they don’t scare easily. This is a club whose kitman, Albert, has been seen doing keepie-ups on the pitch at San Siro and Camp Nou.

Here is a team that have silenced some of the loudest stadiums in the world. Their away record in the Premier League is surprisingly ordinary, with only five away wins all season, but these are intrepid travellers when it comes to Europe’s premier club competition. They had won nine of their previous 11 coming into this match. “Not arrogant, just better” is a saying their fans have adopted.

Ferguson’s men were quick to the ball, strong in the tackle and bold in possession. This was not a side occupied by ploys of conservatism. They played with their heads up and when they broke forward, they did so with great adventure and ambition.

There was a seen-it-all-before kind of confidence to their football, a sense that they knew Chelsea might be vulnerable.

Above everything else, they played with control. It subdued the crowd, got them worrying. There were moans and groans when Chelsea passes were misplaced or on the frequent occasions when a man in a red shirt got to the ball first.

High in the stands Roman Abramovich could be seen pushing himself backwards on his leather-padded chair, dragging his hands through his hair in frustration. By the touchline, Carlo Ancelotti rowed with the fourth official.

It was a strange vibe, edgy and uncertain, even before that devastating move of pace, penetration and pinball passing that led to Rooney angling a diagonal shot against the inside of the post for the his goal. This is Chelsea’s last hope of a trophy but their crowd were anxious and tetchy. United were the more composed side, the one who dared to put their foot on the ball and see what was going on.

Rooney being Rooney, will dominate the headlines, but an honorary mention should go to Michael Carrick, outstanding in central midfield. Carrick has been in danger at times this season of becoming a scapegoat for some of United’s least accomplished performances but here was a reminder that this is a footballer of rare distinction.

Alongside Rooney, Javier Hernandez flitted around with intent.

In defence, it felt like a trick of the mind that Rio Ferdinand had not played for two months. Ferdinand’s body may not be what it once was – over the last two years he has played in only 29 out of United’s 78 Premier League matches – but when he is free of pain he is an outstanding centre-half. Chris Smalling has deputised ably but Ferdinand’s partnership with Nemanja Vidic is the best in England.

For United, there was also Edwin van der Sar’s enduring brilliance and Patrice Evra’s goalline clearance from Frank Lampard’s shot will also linger in the memory.

Nor could we quibble with Ferguson’s decision to leave out Nani, a man who has a legitimate case to be recognised as United’s player of the year.

Antonio Valencia has eased himself seamlessly back into the side after his six months out with a snapped leg.

Park Ji-sung tends to get the nod on the big European nights because of his ubiquitous running.

Nani can count himself as unfortunate but anyone doubting Ferguson’s logic before the match should look at the lesson of history and realise it is never wise to make snap judgments about his team selections.

Invariably, he gets it correct.

GuardianService