THE INDIE - ROONEY DELIVERS HIS BEST IMPRESSION
"Today was a day to rejoice", reflected Sir Alex Ferguson, and long after this facile victory is forgotten, the circumstances surrounding it will be imprinted on the memories of all those present.
A few hours earlier, at Stormont, George Best's countrymen had paid their farewells to him at what was a state funeral, bar the pomp and circumstance. And this, remember, for a man who left Belfast to profit from his footballing prowess 44 years ago. "The ceremony was very touching," added Ferguson, who attended the funeral, but arrived back in time to take charge of his side here. "I just felt very sad for his family."
On a dank evening within what can only be described as a 68,000-seat annexe of that old home of government in Northern Ireland, the faithful also paid their own homage to a character who last pulled on a Manchester United shirt 31 years ago. It says everything about the Irishman that his memory transcends the years as well as national borders, and, it must be added, the sectarian divide.
Outside the stadium, scarves, flowers and shirts festooned the pavement and walls. Before kick-off, against beleaguered visitors whose chairman Milan Mandaric was a significant figure in Best's life, a drizzle swirled around them as a crowd gathered to inspect messages.
In a sense, many regarded this stadium as much Best's home as Belfast's Cregagh estate where he was brought up. The display of respect to their favourite son was a poignant answer to those iconoclasts who have sought to diminish a sporting god on the basis of his human weaknesses.
There was a minute's applause before kick-off. Then football, having paid its respects, moved on - if just a little bit poorer for the loss of such a gifted son. It was an occasion to appreciate those who present themselves as possible Bests of tomorrow. Ferguson had opined in his programme notes: "At one time, people described Ryan Giggs as the new George Best and now it's the turn of Wayne Rooney, who was outstanding in London [against West Ham] last Sunday. Fortunately, Wayne has the kind of nature that will see him handle that kind of projection. I'm more confident about him than anyone else that he won't buy into the celebrity flattery that is bound to come his way."
Though the United manager is understandably wary of any attempt prematurely to propel Rooney into a similar echelon as Best, the temptation must be difficult to withstand after yet another exhibition of vision, precision passing, and a seventh goal of the season.
THE OBSERVER - RONALDO GIVES FITTING FLOURISH TO UNITED'S LABOURED TRIBUTE
Paul Scholes' first goal in 23 games set Manchester United on the way to what became an easy victory over managerless Portsmouth, though a win was only confirmed when the home side put their best players on the pitch. Really, who needs managers anyway?
Sir Alex Ferguson flew back from George Best's funeral in Belfast to attend this fixture. Harry Redknapp chose not to bother, despite having little else to do with his Saturday afternoon.
Even from somewhere over the Irish Sea Ferguson conveyed a few surprises through his team-sheet. Cristiano Ronaldo was dropped to the bench and there was no place in the squad for Gary Neville, whose promotion to captain had been so prominently advertised the previous day, so Ruud van Nistelrooy continued to lead the side out.
Van Nistelrooy needed less than a minute to bring the first save of the game from Jamie Ashdown, and forced a better one after 14 minutes with a stinging shot that the goalkeeper just managed to tip over. With Wayne Rooney and Park Ji-Sung also raining shots on Ashdown's goal, the pattern of the game was soon established and it was almost a matter of routine when United eased ahead on 20 minutes, Paul Scholes heading in smartly when scandalously ignored by the Portsmouth defence from Ryan Giggs's corner.
This was just the start United needed to take the rest of the game easy and begin thinking of Benfica on Wednesday, though they are too experienced to switch off completely. When Lomana LuaLua beat Park to set up a breakaway after United had pushed too many men forward at a corner, better control from Dario Silva would have seen him clean through on Edwin Van der Sar. Instead, Silva looked up to see Giggs charging at him and coughed up the ball in surprise just outside the United area. Considering Giggs had taken the corner, he had checked back an impressive 70 yards.
United were caught cold at the start of the second half when Portsmouth suddenly attacked with incision and Matthew Taylor brought a sharp save from Van der Sar, though with LuaLua and Silva continuing to waste the scraps of possession they received, it couldn't last. Neither could Silva, who made way for Svetoslav Todorov after an hour.
All the same the visitors could only be encouraged by United's inability to make pressure and possession count. The longer the game stayed at 1-0 the longer Portsmouth could believe they might be able to pinch something. Rooney was full of intent yet unable to deliver any telling final passes, and it was a relief to the crowd when Ronaldo came on to liven things up in the 65th minute, even if United sacrificed one of their most effective players in Giggs.
THE TELEGRAPH - UNITED KEEP MIND ON JOB
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson flew back from George Best's funeral by private plane to oversee the resurrection of Paul Scholes's goalscoring career. And although Portsmouth owner Milan Mandaric also made it back from Stormont in time for kick-off, given the pantomime that has taken place on the south coast these past few days, it would have been no surprise if he had parachuted in at half time with Harry Redknapp strapped to his back.
United have proved masterful at overcoming distractions during the illustrious 19-year reign of Ferguson. So they were not going to allow the burial of their favourite son or the extraordinary events surrounding Pompey to deflect their minds from the task of regaining second place in the Premier League table and declaring their intention to maintain their pursuit of leaders and champions Chelsea.
Plenty of bookies may have already paid out to punters who backed Chelsea. But although United once again made heavy weather of a fixture that, in their glory days, they would have regarded as a formality, victory set them 10 points behind Chelsea with a game in hand. That will encourage them to believe that they can produce one of their sustained runs in the New Year to reel in the leaders, even if they still look stiff and awkward rather than their old fluent selves of yesteryear.
United will formally declare the mourning period for Best over today when officials face the sad task of clearing all the flowers, cards and tributes from Sir Matt Busby Way. But they are hoping to make one last connection to his golden legacy in Lisbon on Wednesday, where they need victory over Benfica to ensure their place in the Champions League knockout stages.
On the day of Best's funeral, the supporters also gave him a second minute's applause in four days and continually sang his name, while Ferguson retired his number seven shirt, if not permanently then at least from his starting line-up, hoping that the rested Cristiano Ronaldo could save himself for a magical performance in Portugal.
As United reached the 66th minute still nursing only a 1-0 lead, Ferguson decided he needed a little here, sending him on in place of Ryan Giggs, who also seems to belong to a different era these days. The usual sequence of step-overs followed, as well as the familiar frustration when he continued to run himself into blind alleys. But he did find a goal-making pass, keeping alive the dream of a United winger again mesmerising Benfica in Portugal.
THE SUNDAY TIMES - POMPEY PUNISHED BY SUPER SCHOLES
It was a difficult day for many at Old Trafford, not least Milan Mandaric. The Ports-mouth chairman, a close friend of George Best, attended Best’s funeral and arrived in Manchester on the same chartered plane that transported Sir Alex Ferguson and a party from Manchester United back from Belfast.
He left to face the storm that is brewing on the south coast. For perhaps the first time in his loquacious history he ducked invitations to speak to the press. It was Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe who did all the talking yesterday, although Mandaric will have the last word if he can unveil Harry Redknapp as his new manager this week.
This was a fourth straight League victory and lifted them back to second place. It was not as straightforward as the margin — fattened by two late goals — suggested, but smooth all the same.
The win, and an expressive attacking performance by United, also produced the statement demanded on the day Best was buried and celebrated loudly by both sets of fans during a minute’s applause before kick-off.
"I watched the funeral. I couldn’t take my eyes off it, it was so impressive. All our thoughts were there," said Ruud van Nistelrooy, who led United with Gary Neville, the new club captain, absent because of a minor knock from which he is expected to recover to lead the team in Estadio Da Luz.
"We all look at his (Best’s) goals on the telly in the dressing room and you always feel his spirit is there on the field. It’s amazing."
Van Nistelrooy scored the goal of the day, his side’s third, executing a clever flick to float the ball over advancing goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown after Paul Scholes slipped him clear. It was United’s second strike in six minutes after the preceding 78 minutes had produced just one goal, despite their fine lead-up play.
Wayne Rooney had been the one to finally make it 2-0 and assuage home supporters’ worries about the tenacious way Portsmouth were retaining a foothold in the game. Two substitutes, Cristiano Ronaldo and Louis Saha, reinvigorated United and it was Saha who struck the pass intended for Van Nistelrooy that Andy Griffin cut out, only to send the ball straight to Rooney. From 18 yards the phenomenon buried the ball in the far corner of Ashdown’s net.