Soccer:Wayne Rooney was left out of the Manchester United starting line-up to face Real Madrid at Old Trafford this evening, with manager Alex Ferguson making four changes to his side from the first leg in Spain.
It had been anticipated Ferguson would only tinker with his starting line-up from the Bernabeu three weeks ago.
Instead there were four changes, with Ryan Giggs handed his 1,000th senior game, and Nani, Tom Cleverley and skipper Nemanja Vidic also included.
It meant no place for Jonny Evans, the injured Phil Jones and Saturday's hat-trick hero Shinji Kagawa.
However, the absence of Rooney was the biggest bombshell after his return to first-team duties against Norwich at the weekend following a sinus infection.
Rooney was named on the bench, where he was joined by Javier Hernandez, Kagawa, Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia.
Ferguson confirmed his shock selection was due to Rooney's recent absence. The striker missed two matches with his sinus problem and has only played twice since his return.
"Wayne probably needs a game or two to be honest with you," Ferguson told ITV. "He'll probably come on in the second half and win the game for us hopefully.
Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane believes Rooney will be extremely disappointed with the snub.
He told ITV: "I think it's a massive blow for Wayne. He's a big player and he wants to play in the big games and he'll be bitterly disappointed to be left out tonight."
As anticipated, Cristiano Ronaldo was making his first appearance at Old Trafford since his world record €90 million exit for Madrid in 2009.
Coach Jose Mourinho did make a change, though, with Gonzalo Higuain replacing Karim Benzema in a match in which they had to score in order to avoid exiting on away goals.
Ferguson admits matches such as tonight's Old Trafford showdown are the reason he cannot walk away from the game. Now 71, and inching towards an incredible 27 years in charge, he retains all the enthusiasm and hunger of his youth.
Long after many of the men tipped to replace him have seen their own managerial careers grind to a halt, Ferguson is still going strong, apparently with no intention of standing aside.
It is possibly one of the reasons Mourinho dismissed his chances of one day ending up at Old Trafford in a light-hearted interview with MUTV last night and underlines why Ferguson flicked away another question on the subject during his pre-match press conference.
However, in his programme notes ahead of tonight’s game, the United manager has outlined the relish with which he is approaching a contest Mourinho has stated the whole world will stop for.
“People ask me why I don’t retire after so many years in the game but how could anyone with an ounce of passion for football in their soul voluntarily walk away from the opportunity to be involved in this type of occasion?” Ferguson told United Review.
“This is what it is all about — a packed Old Trafford, the floodlights on, the pitch glistening and two of the greatest and romantic clubs in the game about to do battle.
“Manchester United and Real Madrid are indelibly written into football history, with so many great players gracing the stage here over the years, and from time to time enjoying the glory that comes with winning this most elusive of prizes.
“The tales of ‘derring-do’ as we strive to prove we are the best in Europe illuminate the seasons and I like to think that the pioneers like Matt Busby and Santiago Bernabeu, the president of Real Madrid who gave his name to the stadium, will be up there smiling and as excited as the rest of us at the prospect of another dramatic night featuring the best that the game can provide.”
Manchester United:De Gea, Da Silva, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Carrick, Cleverley, Nani, Welbeck, Giggs, Van Persie.
Subs:Lindegaard, Evans, Valencia, Rooney, Hernandez, Young, Kagawa.
Real Madrid:Diego Lopez, Arbeloa, Varane, Sergio Ramos, Fabio Coentrao, Khedira, Alonso, Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo, Higuain.
Subs:Adan, Pepe, Kaka, Benzema, Albiol, Modric, Callejon.
Referee:
Cuneyt Cakir(Turkey).
