Wayne Rooney remains tight-lipped as he slotted home the decisive goal in a typically storming Champions League first leg at Stamford Bridge. With Chelsea’s penalty claims rebuffed, the scence is set for a tumultuous return leg as United look to protect their slim advantage. Fantasy Managers on alert then – weekend rotation is a very real prospect. Here’s the notes…
Alex Ferguson’s team selection was significant. Rio Ferdinand’s return to fitness saw him slotted back alongside Nemanja Vidic and he rewarded that decision with a strong display in tandem with United’s Serb skipper. Chris Smalling was relegated to the bench then – his prospects of regular starts now presumably at an end, although there is a good chance that Ferguson will opt to rest Ferdinand for the second-leg and start Smalling against Fulham this weekend. More on that to come.
Ji-sung Park again earned a start in midfield, with Antonio Valencia also preferred on the opposite flank. That meant no place once more for Nani. As discussed in Saturday’s Knee Jerk following Nani’s relegation to the bench at West Ham, there is a fear that the Portuguese winger will be rested and rotated now that Park and Valencia are options. This was only confirmed by last night’s selection, compounded by another couple of convincing displays from the pair. No other player created more opportunities for team-mates (key passes) than Valencia, even though he played the majority of the second-half at right-back.
While Nani’s stock took another dent, the Wayne Rooney’s certainty enjoyed a further boost. The striker’s seventh goal in eight games for United won the tie and, should he escape with a reduced ban from today’s FA verdict, we can surely expect renewed Fantasy interest in Rooney.
Alex Ferguson offered us this post-match on Rooney’s performance…
“I thought Wayne was excellent, his work rate and his desire to play were marvellous. He got a lot of abuse tonight and some late tackles but he just got up again and just played his game. That shows the courage of the player…He’s now more regular in his goalscoring which, at this stage of the season, is going to be important to us. His goal tonight was another important one. But I think the whole team takes great credit.”
Rooney looks settled in partnership with Javier Hernandez and with Valencia back to provide a regular stream of crosses, the prospects of a continued spurt of Fantasy points for the remaining games looks good. Fantasy Managers will surely be contemplating the move for Rooney, with Nani a potential transfer casualty in midfield given the new doubts surrounding his starting role.
Chelsea are still very much in the tie however and next week’s second leg promises to be a bitterly contested encounter within an Old Trafford cauldron. Fantasy Managers will need to be mindful of rest and rotation ahead of Tuesday’s tie.
While Ferguson will likely rest Ferdinand at the back, Valencia and/or Park would also seem set to be preserved along with Giggs. The likes of Nani, Paul Scholes and Darron Gibson could all earn recalls against Fulham then. Dimitar Berbartov also looks a certain starter given that Rooney is facing suspension. Rafael will be an injury doubt given that he was stretchered from the field following a clash with Didier Drogba – his role at right-back will likely to brother Fabio this weekend.
As for Chelsea, Carlo Ancelotti again seems likely to rotate his strikers having watched Fernando Torres draw a blank. He could well be rested to the bench against Wigan, as could Didier Drogba, with Nicolhas Anelka and Salomon Kalou in line to lead the attack. Florent Malouda would also seem set to start having been dropped to the bench last night. David Luiz looks nailed-on to return to the back four, with Branislav Ivanovic set to make way – the Brazilian is of course ineligible for the second-leg. Kalou could be the short-term prospect to consider here then – he is available as midfielder in the FPL, priced at 7.1m.
