AC MILAN 2-3 MAN UTD
Sir Alex Ferguson hailed a "fantastic" performance from two-goal Wayne Rooney after Manchester United overcame an early setback to beat AC Milan 3-2 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday night.
Ronaldinho put the hosts ahead in the opening moments but Paul Scholes grabbed a fortuitous equaliser and two goals from Rooney put United in charge. Clarence Seedorf's late goal pegged Sir Alex Ferguson's side back before Michael Carrick was shown a late red card.
Ferguson admitted United's last trip to San Siro, when they were thrashed 3-0 in the semi-finals in 2007, may have played on their minds following Ronaldinho's early goal.
He told Sky Sports: "There was a catalogue of errors. The start to the game helped them and we started to get nervous - the last time we came here we conceded two early goals. But once we were settled I thought we did okay.''
United were transformed in the second half, and Ferguson knew Rooney would be the key. "The most important thing was better use of the ball and to use Rooney more. I felt he had the beating of them and he was fantastic tonight,'' continued the United boss.
"I thought we were coasting at 3-1 then it was a carnival end to the game. It's made it a game when it shouldn't have been a game. We've got to do a job at Old Trafford now. Let's go out and win it.''
Wayne Rooney hailed Manchester United's quality after they came from behind to beat AC Milan. Rooney said: "It was a disappointing start but after that we did well to get back into it. The second half we stepped it up and we fully deserved to win, we were always the better side. When we went 3-1 up I thought it was only us that looked like scoring. The goal keeps Milan in the tie but 3-2 in the San Siro is a great result.''
Rooney cut a frustrated figure through much of the first half as Milan largely dominated and he hinted it was displeasure with the referee's performance that was riling him.
"Some people were not doing their job right,'' he continued. "But I got the booking and I learned from it.''
The match was David Beckham's first against his former employers, and Rooney had some generous words for his England team-mate. "You can see the quality he's got,'' added the striker. "The experience, set-pieces, he's a great player.''
Beckham insisted he had enjoyed facing the club with which he began his career, despite the result. "It was all right,'' he said. "I enjoyed it. The fans were great to me. It's great to play in front of a full stadium.''
The former England captain admitted Milan's missed chances in the first half had cost them. "We had three really good chances but you have to put those chances away,'' he continued. "The second half the game opened up and they put them away.But it's not over. We'll go to Manchester and it's going to be a tough game, we know that.''
