Old Trafford Lounge

Definitely won't happen- I imagine he and Evans were benched with the Chelsea game in mind.

It's not even that.

It was clearly just a tactical decision. Welbeck was probably the best player in the tie across the two legs and did a wonderful job on Alonso, RVP played because he's far better at holding the ball up and a better outlet than Rooney and Rooney was fucking wank on the wing in the first leg.

Exactly, I completely agree with that as well.

It probably is lazy journalism, but this story is absolutely everywhere and none of them differ. I think there's an ounce of truth in it, especially about his relationship with SAF not being as strong as it was. I agree it was a tactical decision and it was paying off but then it means we have a ~£35M player who doesn't get into our first team for our big games.

As much as I don't read into newspaper stories (I don't even read any newspapers), it's very rare that if every single newspaper has a very similar story on it's back page that there isn't some truth in it.

Their planning had been so meticulous they had even switched around the usual team announcements to try to get into Cristiano Ronaldo's head. Usually at Old Trafford it is the away lineup read out first. On this occasion the public announcer, Alan Keegan, was under instructions to start with the home team and finish with Madrid, changing the order of names as well to leave Ronaldo strategically until last. "Kill him with love," as Patrice Evra had said. Keegan ushered in the returning hero, "the magnificent No7", in a way more reminiscent of Michael Buffer setting up a world title fight at Madison Square Garden.

Unrelated, but I thought this was amazing.

Didn't work though, did it?

Isn't Rooney being left out for tactical reasons a strong indication he is leaving?

Can't see Rooney being too happy about being a rotation player/ Man Utd paying out his £250k pw or whatever he's supposed to be on.

Like some sort of dying duck haha?

He's right though.

Imagine if Nani ever play acted, or even dived...

And the award for the most irrelevant point goes to....

Imagine if Nani ever play acted, or even dived...

I find it funny how some people are suggesting that Arbeloa dived to get Nani sent off, while also saying the lack of reaction from Real players show that they didn't think it was a red card.

He kicked somebody in the chest. Intentional or not, it's really not that hard to see why he was sent off.