Manchester United 3 - 1 Aston Villa: Is Rooney Back?

Before the game, Sir Alex Ferguson brushed aside the unfortunate fact that Wayne Rooney's goalscoring record this season has been poor, and stated that Berbatov was thriving on Rooney's hard work around him, and therefore the partnership is successful.

However, he will no longer have to explain the questionable goalscoring form of Rooney this season if the 25 year-old continues in this vain. Two good goals from inside the box; the places he was scoring them all last season, as well as a clever assist both helped Manchester United passed Aston Villa in front of the pleasantly pleased Old Trafford crowd. Were they witnessing Rooney's return to form that everyone had been waiting for?

Whatever they did witness didn't take long to unfold. A clearance by van der sar in the United keepers box saw Rooney bring the ball down with exquisite touch, and with a clinical finish, blasted the ball past a flailing Brad Friedel in the Aston Villa goal. This may have been the spark that Rooney needed to kick start his season again. He had already mounted on the right track, and now the engine in him was beginning to chug away. It will take a few more games and goals, but soon, Rooney could be back in full swing, speeding along the right track, smashing in goals, reminiscent of last season - well, hopefully.

His second goal, and United's, came just before half time. The goal highlights Rooney's need for service. This season, he has desperately missed the unselfish Antonio Valencia's reliably accurate delivery from the right wing. Today, Nani won the ball on the right, and emulated Valencia with a superb delivery into a perfect area - too far for the keeper to catch, and close enough for the striker to poke home. Rooney did so brilliantly, controlling his shot into the net with his left foot, and wheeling away behind the goal in a toned down version of delight- but delight nevertheless.

Just to put the crowd on edge, United slacked off in their defending, and allowed Darren Bent time and space in the box.  Stewart Downing crossed it to the English striker, and with the whole goal to aim at and no one to challenge him, Bent had to score - and he did. Aston Villa then had the chance to get back into the match, and grab an equaliser - much like United did in the previous fixture this season.

Alas, United did what they have done many times this season. That is, just as the opposition got themselves into a better position, and had the momentum to continue, the Red Devils killed the game. The killer goal in this game came from an unlikely source, and with an equally unpredictable finish.

Nemanja Vidic headed down in the box to Wayne Rooney from a cross from the right. He then began his movement away to give Rooney space to hold the ball up and find space. Rooney watched Vidic, and teed him up perfectly to swerve a powerful shot into the net as the helpless Villa defence watched on.

United have done it again, and remain undefeated in the Premier League. Berbatov may have not added to his growing goal tally, but Rooney has, and can use this game as a springboard to better things and finally redeem himself to the United fans after that transfer saga. Finishing with a quote from Sir Alex Ferguson himself on Rooney:

"The man's got a great appetite to play and everyone should remember that.

Manchester United Winger Not Leaving

Rumours that a transfer request had been handed in to Manchester United by their French winger Gabriel Obertan were rubbished by his agent today, who insisted that Obertan is happy at Manchester United and no transfer request had been handed in at any time.

Obertan, who was brought in by Sir Alex Ferguson in July 2009 - a £3 million buy from French club Bordeaux, was rumoured to have come to the conclusion that he is not good enough to make the grade at Old Trafford. He has not had a lot of pitch time in his short stay at the club, but this is to be expected from a player that was relatively unknown in the English Premier League at the time of his aquisition.
Obertan's representative, Karim Djaziri, claimed the Frenchman has not handed in a transfer request and is happy to stay at Old Trafford:

"I have read that Gabriel has handed in a transfer request, but no he has not done this. He is very happy at Manchester United and he doesn't want to leave.

Obertan was signed and unveiled along with Antonio Valencia, who came from Wigan, and although Valencia is currently out injured (but soon to return), the Ecuadorian winger is one of a few players whom fight for a place on the wings. Obertan should be taking tips from players such as Nani, Ryan Giggs and Antonia Valencia, in the hope that he can learn how to become an accomplished wing man. It seems his representative acknowledges this:

"He is still learning and he knows he is not ready to be a regular starter in the team, but he is working hard to be a member of the first team."

It is true that Obertan hasn't set United alight, and his career in Manchester hasn't really taken off yet, but at the young age of 21, and still quite inexperienced in English football, the Frenchman has much to learn, and has plenty of time to learn it. Who and where better to learn his trade than under the wing of Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs, who knows what it is like to be coming up through the United ranks?

Obertan has scored only one goal in the first team for United, which was in a Champions League game against Bursaspor, but he has been impressive in the reserves, scoring a handful of quality goals which must have impressed Ferguson. Young players like this need a chance, and therefore must be patient and prepared to work hard to prove that he is good enough to make the grade at United, because at United, only the best will do.

GUARDIOLA:"NO OS RELAJEIS"

Pep Guardiola no está dispuesto a que la resignación que se respira en la capital tras la derrota del Real Madrid en Pamplona y la reforzada confianza del barcelonismo de cara a la conquista de la Liga al verse con siete puntos de ventaja sobre el eterno rival hagan bajar la guardia a sus jugadores. Cuando apenas habían transcurrido catorce horas de un resultado que consolida al Barça en lo alto de la tabla liguera, el técnico de Santpedor hizo una llamada al orden cuando aún faltan cuatro meses de temporada, todo un mundo. Aunque Guardiola tiene fe ciega en la profesionalidad de su equipo, quiso contrarrestar el alud de comentarios de la afición del Barça que ya dan por ganada la tercera Liga seguida para mantener la intensidad que ha llevado a este equipo hasta donde está y a ser admirado en todo el mundo.
Pep aprovechó además la presencia de las cámaras de los medios de comunicación para escenificar la arenga y que ésta no quedara en la clandestinidad de la Ciutat Esportiva. "No os lo creáis", vino a ser su mensaje durante un discurso que duró seis minutos bajo la atenta y seria mirada de los jugadores. Sólo se la perdieron Puyol, Iniesta y Jeffren, en el gimnasio recuperándose de sus lesiones. Guardiola está más que orgulloso de la actitud de sus hombres y durante su alocución lo volvió a confesar pero reiteró que, aunque la posición del Barça en la Liga es privilegiada, celebrar el alirón depende de ellos. Eric Abidal lo definió muy bien dos horas después en la sala de prensa: "Guardiola nos ha dicho que hay que seguir trabajando sin mirar a los demás y, si al final no ganamos nada, será culpa nuestra".
El técnico se llevó el dedo índice a la cabeza en varias ocasiones, pidiendo concentración y frialdad siempre en un tono calmado porque no tiene nada que recriminarles pero enérgico a la vez ante la importancia de lo que se avecina. Pep fue claro: "Esta Liga no está ganada y tampoco estamos en la final de Copa". Tras el susto ante el Betis, la charla táctica para mañana en Almería está dada. Recordó que el camino a seguir es el que ha llevado a sumar 58 puntos de 63 posibles en la Liga y les avisó que nadie les regalará nada y que el triplete aún está lejos. Muy lejos.