PRESS BOX VIEW – TELEGRAPH

From The Telegraph:

‘The timing of this fixture meant everyone associated with Manchester United needed the uplifting performance that unfolded as Portsmouth proved to be perfect guests for a morale-boosting occasion.

Its juxtaposition between a touching farewell to George Best and United's nerve-jangling Champions League game with Benfica called for something akin to a warm-up game and that materialised with Sir Alex Ferguson afforded the opportunity to ease Ryan Giggs back into the fold while leaving out Gary Neville with Wednesday in mind.

Fittingly, after the whole of Old Trafford rose to pay a rousing tribute to Best with a minute's applause, the new boy wonder, Wayne Rooney, was at the heart of United's comprehensive defeat of a team who seem certain to face a long struggle against relegation and badly needing wily Harry 'Houdini' Redknapp to design an escape plan.

Rooney it was who shone brightest on the day of Best's funeral and the famous stadium was illuminated by three high-class goals whose diversity reflected the repertoire that adorned the late Ulsterman's game.

Giggs looked forward to Wednesday: 

"It's very important for this club to go forward in Europe," Giggs said. "We have nearly everyone back now and we're looking strong. The manager has been saying for the last couple of months how the lads have been carrying the burden so it's good we'll have back experienced players who've sampled the atmosphere we face in Lisbon on many occasions."