VIEWS FROM THE PRESSBOX

On the anniversary of their biggest defeat in Europe, a 5-0 embarrassment against Sporting Lisbon in 1964, Manchester United should count themselves fortunate they came across opponents last night who were not intent on inflicting a similar humiliation.

Instead, Deportivo settled for a goal in each half, condemning United to only their second defeat in 24 Champions League games.

Ferguson will now turn his attentions to tonight's ties and the quarter-final draw on Friday, when United will face one of the runners-up from the other three qualifying groups: Real Madrid, Internazionale or, say it quietly, maybe even Newcastle or Arsenal.

If this is Blanc's final match before retiring at the end of the season, it was not a fitting conclusion to an illustrious career. His lack of pace was brutally exposed by Albert Luque in the build-up to Victor scoring with a simple finish beyond Ricardo in the 32nd minute and there was an air of resignation about the way the 37-year-old French international raised an apologetic hand. Earlier, he had been fortunate not to concede a penalty after a slight tug of Juan Carlos Valeron's shirt.

United went for long spells without threatening but Ferguson was entitled to be pleased with the manner in which his young players acclimatised to the surroundings.

Whether that means he is satisfied they have a future at this level remains to be seen. Ferguson is confident that Darren Fletcher, the 19-year-old midfielder who did so well against Basle last week, will become a fixture in his squad but the manager has reservations about the other newcomers. Danny Pugh, Lee Roche and Mark Lynch are all already in their 20s. It might be that this was their final opportunity to convince Ferguson of their value to his squad.

Of the three players making their first full appearances in Europe, Roche was the most impressive in a three-man central defence and it was a peculiar decision to substitute him at half-time. But Lynch's contribution will be remembered for his own-goal two minutes after the interval, when he spoiled an otherwise composed display by heading Victor's cross past Ricardo under pressure from Luque.

The Telegraph

It will be a long time before Ferguson is able to give out soft debuts mid-season but Mark Lynch will remember last night for the rest of his life. A half-full stadium in northern Spain might have been an anticlimax for the locals but for one 21-year-old from Manchester it was a United debut that had been a long
time coming.

There is something slightly mournful about this generation of United academy players who will have to earn a new contract soon or find themselves caught up by the next batch of hopefuls on the way through. That means Darren Fletcher, whose performance against Basle last week earned him another start in the first team. Hunched shoulders, shirt untucked, the 19-year-old looks the part.

But if this game was about new beginnings for United it was also about the end for someone else. At 37, Laurent Blanc is entitled to have finished years ago - which is what he was probably thinking when he was comprehensively beaten for pace by Albert Luque for Deportivo's first goal after 32 minutes. Captain for the night, this could easily have been Blanc's last game for United. As Luque motored past him down the right the Frenchman spread his arms, which seemed to signal not just the end of the chase but something more fundamental.

The Times

Qualification for the last eight was secured some time ago, but there was more than just prize-money to play for. Darren Fletcher, the 19-year-old midfield player, was among those who enhanced his reputation.

Blanc's experience may have helped some of his young colleagues in one regard, but it was his chronic lack of pace, rather than the rawness of Roche or John O'Shea, that proved the chink in United's three-man defence. In the eighteenth minute, he was fortunate not to concede a penalty after felling Juan Carlos Valerón, but there was no such escape 14 minutes later, when he was left trailing in Albert Luque's wake before the forward's low cross from the left wing was tapped in by Víctor.

United managed the occasional attacking foray, usually ending with a wayward shot from Diego Forlán, but their deficit was doubled just two minutes into the second half when Víctor's right-wing cross was headed into his own net by Lynch. The defender could not be faulted for determination, as he leapt above Luque, but there was little dignified about what followed, with injury added to insult when the ball flew in his face.

Of the youngsters, it was Fletcher who made the best impact, showing an impressive willingness to join the attack whenever the opportunity arose. The Scotland Under-21 international was almost rewarded on the hour with his first senior goal, but his shot was cleared off the line by César after good work by Ryan Giggs, who struck the foot of the post moments later.

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