Wayne hails 'best fans in the world'

Match-winner Wayne Rooney hailed United’s global following as thousands of Reds watched United become world-beaters against Liga de Quito both in the Yokohama International Stadium, on television and via ManUtd.com’s coverage.

“We’ve been amazed by the amount of fans over here,” he admitted after the game. “So many have travelled from England and there are also thousands here in Japan. We’re the best team in the world and they’re the best fans in the world.”

Rooney was ecstatic at scoring the goal that confirmed United’s position as the greatest team on Earth - his third goal in less than one and a half games.

“It’s fantastic, I was really happy to get the goal for us," he said.

"It’s a great achievement for us, and it’s something we’ve worked very hard for. We’re delighted to be world champions.”

United’s no.10 gave Liga de Quito’s goalkeeper Jose Cevallos a torrid evening, especially in the first half, but Wayne admitted the game was made a lot harder in early in the second period by Nemanja Vidic’s sending off.

“It was a really tough game for us after going down to ten men," added Rooney. "They had more possession but we defended well to win it."

Rooney is hitting top form at a great time for United and after receiving what looks like a giant key as FIFA's Man of the Match - he was also Player of the Tournament - Wayne will surely unlock more defences back in England. Opposition goalkeepers should expect an unhappy new year.

Man City 0 Vs Man United 1

Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off for the second time in a Manchester derby, but Wayne Rooney’s first-half strike was enough to hand United all three points at Eastlands.

Ronaldo’s two yellow cards – the second for a bizarre deliberate handball – meant the Reds had to play the last 22 minutes with 10 men. But City didn’t threaten until stoppage time and United held on to claim a deserved derby-day win.

Sir Alex’s men controlled the game from start to finish, proving class and ability on the pitch counts for far more than wealth and ambition off it. Certainly, when City’s new owners took over in the summer, expectations in the blue half of Manchester rose astronomically. Almost immediately, the owners outlined a wish to win the Champions League within just three years. On the evidence of the 151st Manchester derby, however, City still have a lot of work to do.

Dimitar Berbatov made a surprise return to the Reds’ starting line-up after missing United’s last two matches with a hamstring injury. His inclusion alongside Wayne Rooney meant Carlos Tevez had to be content with a place on the bench.

Elsewhere, Ji-sung Park was given the nod ahead of Ryan Giggs and Nani on the left side of midfield, while 18-year-old Brazilian Rafael started at right back in his first Manchester derby. He showed little sign of nerves, darting down the wing early on to add an extra man to the Reds’ attacks.

It was from the right that United’s first real chance came, although it was Ji-sung Park and not the young Brazilian who fizzed the ball across the Blues’ box. It reached Rooney at the penalty spot, but the England international’s shot was straight at Joe Hart.

The Reds dominated possession early on and Ronaldo rose highest on 14 minutes to head narrowly over the bar from Wayne Rooney’s corner. Berbatov then drew a finger-tip save from Hart when he nodded Rafael’s cross towards the far corner.

United’s midfield four, commanded by Darren Fletcher in the middle, were first to everything, as City struggled to win – let alone keep – the ball. Fletcher and Berbatov linked well to release Ronaldo before the ball broke to Patrice Evra, who couldn’t keep his shot down.

Despite dominating, United almost went behind after 32 minutes. Van der Sar came a long way for a City free-kick and struggled to punch clear. With the Dutchman stranded, Stephen Ireland stabbed the ball goalwards from 18 yards. Micah Richards elected not to try and steer it in himself and in the end the ball bounced, almost in slow-motion, off the outside of the post and out for a goal kick.

It would have been cruel on the Reds, but the scare underlined how important it is to take chances in front of goal. And that’s exactly what Wayne Rooney did just before the interval, when his 100th club goal – his 83rd for United – put United in front.

City struggled to clear a bouncing ball inside the penalty area and when it broke to Michael Carrick the midfielder lashed a left-footed shot across Hart towards the far corner. The City goalkeeper did well to keep out the shot, but could only palm the ball to Rooney, who side-footed home from two yards.

The only surprise was that it took so long for the Reds to break the deadlock. Completely dominant in the first 45 minutes, United wouldn’t have been flattered had the score been 3-0 at the break.
Mark Hughes made changes at half-time, bringing Elano and Pablo Zabaleta on for Darius Vassell and Dietmar Hamann. The Blues were buoyed and Vincent Kompany went close from distance before Benjani found the side-netting after a quick counter-attack.

The changes allowed City to creep back into the game and the home team enjoyed more time on the ball. At the other end, Berbatov almost squeezed his shot past his marker before the game turned in City’s favour with Ronaldo’s dismissal.

Already on a yellow card after bringing down Shaun Wright-Phillips, Ronaldo went up for a corner and batted the ball away with both hands. He appeared to claim he heard a whistle and had thought the match had been stopped, but referee Howard Webb was unconvinced and showed the no.7 a second yellow card.

It was a bizarre incident – there seemed no other reason for Ronaldo to have gone with his hands – and forced United to reshuffle for the final 22 minutes. The Blues threw on striker Daniel Sturridge to bolster their attacking options, but failed to threaten van der Sar’s goal until stoppage-time when Richard Dunne had a shot cleared off the line.

The Reds then broke and almost made it 2-0 when Rooney tried to lob the retreating Hart from 40 yards. The goalkeeper made a fine save to deny Wayne on this occasion, but his first-half effort proved enough to clinch the points and wrestle back bragging rights for the red half of Manchester.

Rooney Hits Top Gear

Wayne Rooney says he hasn’t changed his approach after scoring his third goal in three games to help United to an impressive 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers.

The 22-year-old Reds forward has been in fine form recently, scoring against Bolton Wanderers, Aalborg and now Blackburn. But Rooney defended his form at the start of the season by saying the only difference now is that he is finding the back of the net.

“Once you get your first goal of the season your confidence is sky-high. I’ve not really been doing anything differently,” he said after scoring the goal that clinched victory over Paul Ince's men.

“I’m not doing anything different to what I was doing at the start of the season. I’ve just been taking my chances – that’s the only real difference.”

Rooney’s performance – including his fantastic second-half top-corner strike – was arguably his most complete of the season so far. The same goes for United, whose fluid movement in attack was a joy to watch, particularly after the break.

“It’s a great result for us because it’s been a difficult place to come to in the last few years,” Rooney told Setanta Sports. “The conditions weren’t the best, it was raining heavily, but I thought we played well and deserved the win.

“We moved the ball well at times. We were confident in possession and getting the goal in the first half allowed us to pass the ball more freely in the second half. We knew we’d get the chances to finish the game off and we did.”