VIEW FROM THE SHEETS

Last updated : 05 November 2003 By Editor
Grauniad

‘Manchester United's ascent has far to go, but they stood
far above a willing if limited Rangers team last night. With
nine points in Group E, their advance to the knockout phase
of the Champions League is all but certain. United are
nearly as gratified by the resurgence of Ruud van
Nistelrooy, scorer of two of the goals that put Rangers'
survival in grave doubt.

‘A meeting between the champions of England and Scotland has
a ring of heritage about it and the occasion brought out
traditional traits in United. Here they were reverting to
the 4-4-2 formation and, with two wingers, this could have
been any match day from the last 30-odd years if you ignored
the sponsored jerseys.

‘Defences still cannot quite accept the emergence of a sure-
shot Diego Forlán. His early opener meant that he had scored
in four consecutive matches. The precision with which it was
struck suggested that he had somehow siphoned off the gifts
of Van Nistelrooy. Even when the Dutchman did eventually
score, it was Forlán who made the goal possible.

‘Rangers had the will to compete, but not the means, even if
Tim Howard did encourage them with a weak parry of a Ball
shot. The songs of the 3,000 Rangers fans owed their
commendable volume more to defiance than expectation and
they ought to have been steeling themselves for the next Van
Nistelrooy goal, delivered after an hour.

‘It was the first sign that Rangers were beginning to be
overwhelmed, so inadequate was their reaction to the deep
Giggs free-kick that the Dutchman headed into the net. It is
a relief to Scots that Van Nistelrooy will probably not
start for Holland in the Euro 2004 play-off, but it may be a
while before Rangers supporters extract comfort from that.’

Telegraph

‘Playing with marvellous width, running Rangers ragged and
stretching the champions of Scotland beyond recognition,
Manchester United moved within touching distance of the last
16 of the Champions League with a mesmerising display of
counter-attacking at Old Trafford last night.

‘Ruud van Nistelrooy ended his barren run in emphatic style,
striking twice, after Diego Forlan had given United the lead
but the architects of this demolition were Sir Alex
Ferguson's wingers, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs, who
sliced Rangers to pieces down the flanks.

‘Ferguson had gone back to his old strengths, playing with
pace and width, counter-attacking with the percussive
intensity of a champion boxer unleashing bewildering
combinations to brutal effect, giving the opponent no time
to draw breath. No mercy. No let-up in speed. United went
for the jugular.

‘"This is so easy," came the chorus from four stands,
barring the pocket of visiting defiance. Questioning
Rangers' ambitions, Old Trafford chanted "Premier League?"
followed by "First Division?", "Sunday League?" before
settling on "Subbuteo?" Too harsh. Rangers were not poor.
United were simply irresistible down the flanks.

‘Here were United rolling back the years to the flying form
down the flanks that carried them to the '99 title. Giggs,
deployed more centrally in recent seasons, was restored to
the position where he terrorised opponents, racing down the
left, leaving his full-back, Zurab Khizanishvili, with
twisted blood.

‘Down the right raced that high-class Portuguese whippet
Ronaldo, testing the reactions and acceleration of Michael
Ball. With Phil Neville and Roy Keane anchoring midfield,
the scene was set for United to spread their wings.’

Times

‘Diego Forlan’s strike was the pick of the goals in
Manchester United’s 3-0 Champions League victory over
Rangers last night, but the most precious were the two for
Ruud van Nistelrooy. At odds with Dick Advocaat, the Holland
manager, and out of sorts for his club, the striker finished
the evening resembling a man to be feared once more as he
narrowly failed to complete a hat-trick.

‘Four games without a goal had equalled the worst run of his
United career, but a lucky ricochet marked a change of
fortune. One player guaranteed selection in his next game is
Forlán, who has scored four in as many games for United,
including a cracker last night.

‘Ferguson can turn his thoughts back to the
Barclaycard Premiership knowing that his team should stroll
through to the last 16 of the European Cup.’

Indie

‘It was not so much a battle as a public execution. As at
Ibrox, the scoreline in last night's Champions' League tie
did not reflect Manchester United's superiority but everyone
present knew the reality. By the end it was not just
Cristiano Ronaldo doing tricks, even Quinton Fortune was
dusting off his party pieces. Had United not declared at
three, it would have been an Anglo-Scottish massacre on a
scale not seen since Edward I hung up his chainmail.

‘With Stuttgart defeating Panathinaikos 3-1 in Greece,
United need just a point from their remaining games, in
Athens and at home to the Germans, to qualify for the knock-
out stages. Rangers will qualify if they and United both win
their remaining games but, with a trip to the Bundesliga
leaders next up, realistically they are left to concentrate
on holding on to third place and the consolation of a place
in the Uefa Cup.’