Alex Ferguson happy with his team selection and praises his youngsters after the 3-0 win in Turkey
Manchester United all but progressed to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League with a clinical display of football last night where they thrashed Turkish minnows Bursaspor 3-0 away in Turkey.
With the win Manchester United moved to the magical figure of 10 points and are almost guaranteed with a place in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Sir Alex Ferguson gave a few surprises when he named the team to face Bursaspor as he named Dimitar Berbatov as the lone striker last night and opted for a five man midfield, thus giving Gabriel Obertan a rare start for Manchester United.
Also in defence in the absence of Rio Ferdinand, Sir Alex gave Chris Smalling his Champions League debut for Manchester United and the youngster did not disappoint, as he along with Nemanja Vidic helped United keep a clean sheet in Turkey.
Bencing the man of the moment Javier Hernandez was big surprise but it all paid dividends when United came away with an overwhelming 3-0 win.
After failing to break down their opponents in the first half United came out firing on all cylinders in the second half and only took three minutes after the break to get over with the deadlock when Michael Carrick picked out Darren Fletcher with a chipped
pass and the midfielder unleashed a powerful shot into the far right corner of the net.
United doubled the advantage in the 73rd minute when Gabriel Obertan justified his selection with a sublime goal.
The French winger latched onto a through ball from the midfield and fired a thunderbolt past the Bursaspor keeper to make the points safe for United.
United made it 3-nil late in the game when the Portuguese youngster Bebe, also making his debut for United in the competition headed the ball into the goal off the bar to make sure that United were leaving Turkey with all three points and a clean sheet.
After the match United manager Alex Ferguson said that after the first goal his team controlled the proceedings and their opponents did not have a chance to claw their way back into the game.
"We got one early in second half and that makes a difference, from that point on we were basically in control of the match although they had a couple of half chances so you can never be sure but the second goal killed match."
Ferguson was also mighty pleased with the performance of his youngsters and said that it was the right time to promote some fresh players into the squad.
"They did very well, [I am] very pleased with them, young players getting experience is as important as anything but they did perform well too.[Obertan had a couple of injuries the boy but he's only 20. He's developing very well and getting much stronger
now. He's a real good talent, and his goal tonight showed that, a fantastic strike."
United are now unbeaten in their last 22 games and have not been beaten in any competition this season and the manager was very pleased about the fact.
United’s last 7 goals in all competition have been scored by seven different players and the manager feels that it is a very good sign that the players are stepping up to the task and delivering at a time when their goal scoring machine Wayne Rooney is forced
to watch from the sidelines with an ankle injury.
With 10 points already secured Sir Alex’s side are almost guaranteed a place in the last 16 barring a calamity in their last two group games which involve a trip to Ibrox to face Rangers and a home game against Valencia.
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