What a fantastic result for Manchester United. To grab a 1-1 draw against Real Madrid should set the team up nicely for the return leg back at Old Trafford. It was a fair score-line although both sides will regret not grabbing a second.
In such a huge game you cannot have passengers on your side, players who you have to carry through the game. United had none of them last night as everyone to a man did their jobs, whether it was Wayne Rooney sacrificing his offensive-game to work hard for the team in midfield or Jonny Evans being rock-solid at the back.
Undoubtedly the stars of United’s efforts last night were David De Gea, Phil Jones and goalscorer Danny Welbeck. For all three of them emerged last night not as young players with potential but as men, who in all fairness had just played the game of their careers.
First up De Gea. The Spanish stopper has copped a lot unfair stick during his time at the club. Of course some of it has been fair; after all he has made some howlers. However what young keeper hasn’t made mistakes?
The answer to that question is none. Every keeper has and will make mistakes just like every outfield player will make mistakes from time to time. De Gea now has to grow into a consistent goalkeeper. His performance last night will do him the world of good. United’s defence will also grow in confidence as a result of performances like that from their stopper who made several world-class saves last night.
The two that stand out came from Real’s full-back Fabio Contreao. De Gea tipped a low curling effort onto the post in the first-half before acrobatically saving a close-range effort with his feet to deny the Portuguese international for a second time, when it looked like the ball had crept into the net.
Going back to his home-town he would have felt enormous pressure to play well added onto the intense-pressure that one would get from playing in such a big game. He did everything he needed to do and has silenced his critics for now, who cannot do anything but shower him with praise after his showing last night.
Jones had by far his best game for the club last night. Alongside the ever reliable Michael Carrick he impressed going toe-to-toe with Xabi Alonso, Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil. In doing so he kept up his stellar form since returning from injury and has truly emerged as someone with the ability long-term to make it as a central midfielder.
The ability has and always will be there for Jones to play in midfield. However any doubts fans had of whether he could play there against the best players in the world have now been truly extinguished. Jones is a grafter. He isn’t a reckless challenger as has been proven by his efforts man-marking Gareth Bale and Marouane Fellaini in recent weeks.
He went to battle against the mighty Ronaldo and has come out of it looking stronger, looking finally like the player that stood out like a sore thumb at Blackburn Rovers. It will be interesting to see how he develops over the next couple of seasons and where his long-term position lies on the pitch.
Finally to Welbeck. Remarkably his goal last night was only his second club-goal of the year however goals don’t tell you the whole story with Welbeck who continuously works hard off the ball and is very able out-wide where his hold-up play and willingness to run can cause great damage when he’s on his game.
The forward took his goal well last night, holding off Sergio Ramos to head Rooney’s corner past Diego Lopez. But for a fortuitous save from Lopez from a Robin van Persie cross Welbeck may well have had a second before the break. He didn’t dwell on that miss and tracked back brilliantly in the second-half much to the delight of his manager and supporters.
By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87
