17 April 2006, by Sean Gillen

Ferguson leaps to defence of Ronaldo and Rooney

Manchester United 0-0 Sunderland

Alex Ferguson was quick to defend his misfiring youngsters Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney as Manchester United’s title hopes were all but ended after they unbelievably failed to beat bottom-placed Sunderland at Old Trafford.

Ronaldo, 21 and Rooney, 20 were badly off form as United couldn’t beat the Northeast club, who are now relegated, in front of a record 72,000 crowd. But Ferguson was keen to play down the disappointing performances of his young stars, insisting that they will fulfil their potential.

“We know Rooney and Ronaldo are going to be great players, without question. I’d stake my life on it. Tonight they just had an off night,” Ferguson told reporters after the game.

“We were depending on them and they’ve been instrumental in everything we’ve achieved in the last nine games. I’ve been saying all along, with young players you have to expect inconsistency,” said Ferguson.

Ronaldo and Rooney: Great futures

“We’ll wait. We can wait for two or three years to get the full benefit of them, because that’s what potential is. They don’t fulfil their potential at 20 and 21; they fulfil it at 23, 24 or 25. Tonight they probably had their worst performances of the season, the two of them, but we know they will be great players.”

Despite the fact that the visitors needed a win to delay their inevitable relegation, Kevin Ball’s side adopted a defensive strategy from the start. It was no surprise then that United dominated possession, but they struggled to create many clear-cut chances as the expected goal fest never materialised.

When they did find a way past the Sunderland backline, United found goalkeeper Kelvin Davies in excellent form, and he made some fine saves. Ji-Sung Park went desperately close with a left footed shot in the first half, before Davis saved from Rooney and Ryan Giggs. Ronaldo also headed wide when well placed.

Ruud van Nistelrooy brought two good saves out of Davis in the second half before Ronaldo had possibly the best chance of the game. Having already seen his left-foot shot tipped wide by Davis, the Portuguese star shot straight at the Sunderland ‘keeper after being played in by Rooney.

Chelsea’s win at Bolton on Saturday virtually ended the title race. With a nine-point advantage, Jose Mourinho’s men would now have to completely fall apart to allow the Red Devils any hope of stealing their Premiership crown.

Manchester United:
Van der Sar, Neville, Evra (Silvestre, 67), Ferdinand, Brown, O’Shea (Solskjaer, 67), Giggs, Park, Ronaldo, Rooney, van Nistelrooy
Yellow Cards: None

Sunderland:
Davis, Hoyte, McCartney, Collins, Breen (Caldwell, 63), Leadbitter (Miller, 74), Lawrence, Whitehead, Murphy, Stead (Le Tallec, 80), Brown
Yellow Cards: Brown 90