Free and Easy

Nothing to really criticise in the papers today, a sign of how comfortable our victory actually was I guess... The Times report today sums up the Boro game nicely:

All this game lacked was everything. No drama, no intrigue, no controversy, no turmoil. No tension, no pressure, no injuries, no need to badger the referee or plead for clemency. The grass was green and the day was golden but this was an afternoon largely devoid of colour. Yet, for Manchester United, it was gloriously un-eventful, which may just make it a moment of magnitude.

There could be no better preparation for their assault on the season’s summit than a match that left their reserves of stamina untapped. Between the two legs of the Champions League semi-final against Arsenal, Sir Alex Ferguson made seven changes to his side, who ticked the appropriate boxes and then left. Only one question was asked of them by Middlesbrough: how comfortable would you like your victory?

Daniel Taylor in The Guardian praises Park and (mainly Rooney):

The Middlesbrough manager spoke of needing a "miracle" and was planning to give his players two days' off, worried that they might be "drained physically and emotionally".

Ferguson's, on the other hand, might be feeling tired but you would never have guessed it from the way, for example, Rooney and Park Ji-sung were chasing around like two kids who had had too many E numbers, combining elegantly for United's second goal. That was on 55 minutes and Southgate said: "The belief evaporated when that went in." In truth, there had been not too much to begin with.

If Rooney is feeling the sapping effects of fatigue, he certainly disguises it well. Ferguson has noted recently that Rooney is starting to enjoy playing on the left of United's attack. It is a role that needs an appreciation of space and good stamina and, as Rooney is showing, it is not mandatory to be left-footed. His energy is mixed with an adult intelligence about when to play the ball and where and Ferguson ought to be credited for enforcing the switch given that, in a more central position, Rooney's partnership with Dimitar Berbatov was taking too long to flower fully.

Henry Winter in The Telegraph praises the team selection:

Now a senior statesman of the United dressing room, Giggs remained in eye-catching form here, showing why he was voted Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year with his intelligent passing and superb goal. The truth of Hansen's [that you'lll never win anything with kids] aphorism was also confirmed as United's collection of experience and youth strode closer to the title while Middlesbrough's wilting saplings edged nearer relegation.

Balance characterises the selections of Sir Alex Ferguson, whose tactical plans for each game this season has been particularly shrewd, the FA Cup semi-final apart. Saturday's straightforward victory over Boro saw the blend of Federico Macheda and Dimitar Berbatov, the teenaged Italian playing the runner for the Bulgarian's cultured batsman. At the back, Nemanja Vidic looked after Jonny Evans.

Of the midfield, Giggs remarked that he and Paul Scholes, boasting a combined age of almost 70, used their "experience'' relying on "the legs of (Ji-Sung) Park and Wazza (Wayne Rooney) either side of us'' to "do all the running''. Giggs added: "Me and Scholesy just tried to keep the ball and you have to use your experience to do that.''

And a nice simple description of our great second goal:

United toyed with Southgate's side, scoring two fantastic goals. Giggs' low shot was a cool finish but the build-up to the champions' second was exceptional. The ball was moved through midfield, flowing from John O'Shea to Scholes, Giggs, Macheda and Giggs again before Rooney took charge. His reverse pass to Park invited the South Korean to shoot nimbly past Brad Jones.

The Daily Mail report centres around Gareth Southgate's praise for our team, which says a lot about the game:

Southgate said: ‘For any youngster playing against them [Scholes and Giggs], it’s not just what they do on the field but the way they’ve lived their lives at the top of the game for more than 10 years.

‘They’re shining examples of how to let your football do the talking.

'They’ve both shunned the celebrity lifestyle when, particularly for Ryan, it would have been easy to go down that route.

'They’re judged on the honours they win, their performances on the field, and nothing else.

‘I’m sure they’ve earned a fair amount of money, but that isn’t uppermost in their minds, and I’m sure for Sir Alex to have professionals like them and Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville in his club must help enormously with young players.’

David Pleat looks at just why Boro were so rubbish:

When Boro had possession, they utterly failed to see the advantage of trying to draw United out of position. Rather, they pumped balls upfield from deep which found the heads of Nemanja Vidic or Jonny Evans too easily. It was obvious they needed to get into high, wide positions to cross low, fierce and fast, rather than loft the ball hopefully goalwards hoping for a mistake. That was not the service from which Marlon King and Jérémie Aliadière could thrive, but their lack of adventure prolonged to the end.

With Boro's back four clearly nervous about losing their shape when they gained possession, Gary O'Neil and Stewart Downing were offered no discernible support from their full-backs, Justin Hoyte and Tony McMahon, when they received the ball wide (see diagram). As a consequence, rarely did Boro get near enough to the United penalty box and, particularly, to the byline areas shaded in the diagram to cross from dangerous positions. The home side desperately needed to overload wide, but McMahon and Hoyte never sprang forward in support of their wide midfielders to create a two-versus-one situation.

The Sun's report links the game to the Arsenal game:

United probably have harder training sessions than this stroll down by the Riverside.

It was a virtual non-contest from start to finish and just left onlookers purring about the strength in depth Fergie has to play with.

No Rio Ferdinand. No Cristiano Ronaldo. No Edwin van der Sar. No Michael Carrick.

No problem.

And the worry for Arsenal is that now the confidence levels at Old Trafford will be soaring through the roof and beyond. ...

At least there was some good news for Wenger and Benitez after the final whistle. When SunSport approached Rooney for his thoughts after such a masterful display, he said he was too tired to talk. He did not even have the energy to muster a few soundbites about how dominant United were.Poor little lamb. Could hardly keep his eyes open.

So there you go Arsene. If Rooney does not have enough energy to open his mouth, what hope has he got of leading United into the Champions League final?

Good luck, mon ami. On this evidence, you will need it.

The Sun has some words from Sir Alex on his love for his players:

“I love getting up in the morning. I like getting in to training early and watching the players train. I’ve never lost that.

“The leadership qualities needed at a club like Manchester United are high. You have to have respect from the players.

“The horrible part of football is you fall in love with your players.

“A time comes when you see a deterioration and you know you have to make the change. A lot of people can’t do it.”

Ferguson admits he hates it when he has to unload players who have been with him for years.

He said: “They’re like your family but you must make those changes.”

Something of a novelty; there's a quote from Tevez in today's papers, which is about the actual game, rather than his future:

"We had a difficult period, losing to Liverpool and Fulham," said Carlos Tevez, here a substitute with impact. "In a way that dip in form was almost a positive thing because it gave the team the opportunity to face up to the problem and tackle it head-on. You need these challenges in life – they help you realise just how tough you are."

And while we're on Tevez, here's a little comment from Martin Samuel on him:

Carlos Tevez has played 1,671 minutes of Premier League football for Manchester United this season and scored three goals. That equates to one every 557 minutes or one every 6.18 games.

His hard work is acknowledged but managers want craft, not graft, for £32m which is why, unless the price is renegotiated, Tevez will be allowed to leave.

Some comments from Giggs on the Arsenal game:

"If we play to the ability we did in the first half last week we will have no problems," said the former Wales captain. "We went out to get the crowd going and play at a quick tempo. That is what we do when we are at our best.

"Arsenal are a top team and they are capable of scoring goals so we are under no illusions about how difficult this is going to be. But our form in Europe has been excellent and we are in a good position."

"You have to look after Arsenal's quality players," said Giggs. "They have so many match-winners; [Cesc] Fábregas, [Emmanuel] Adebayor, [Theo] Walcott, [Robin] Van Persie, if he is fit. The threat is obvious, so you have to try and nullify it. But we have to try and stamp our own authority on the game because we have outstanding players ourselves."

Oliver Kay takes a look at Berbatov:

The Berbatov deal instantly called to mind Sir Alex Ferguson’s £28.1 million capture of Juan Sebastián Verón in 2001. The comparison is hardly a new one, but it was revived last week when Ferguson, in an interview with France Football magazine, explained the deal by emphasising the importance of retaining possession, even if it meant slowing down the team’s play. It was the same rationale he used for signing Verón.

First impressions of Verón proved accurate, that he was a wonderful player who did not fit into United’s team, and there has been a strong temptation to write off Berbatov in similar fashion. Both in the media and among United’s fans, some of whom booed when his name was read out before the recent victory over Portsmouth, there are hordes of Berba-sceptics, all of them clamouring for the inclusion of the more industrious Tévez.

Berbatov is yet to live up to his price tag and at times there is a desperation about Ferguson’s desire to talk up the “magnificent” efforts of a player who has been only the ninth or tenth most magnificent in his team. But it is hard to avoid the feeling, based partly on his contributions against Tottenham Hotspur and Middlesbrough, that Berbatov is about to underline his worth. The United shirt weighs heavily on his shoulders, perhaps reflecting a degree of insecurity, but the feeling persists that he will play a big part in what unfolds over the final weeks of the campaign.