Manchester United's young turks outmuscled by Galatasaray

Galatasaray 1 Manchester United 0

Sir Alex Ferguson could see the positives from last night’s defeat in Galatasaray, after the early success of Manchester United’s Champions League campaign. The result made no difference to United’s progress or position. They have already ensured first place in Group H, having won their first four matches.

So Ferguson left almost all of his senior players in Manchester last night, including strikers Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney, and veterans Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.

It was a perfect opportunity, then, for Sir Alex Ferguson to give some of his younger players a taste of the unique atmosphere of the Turk Telecom Arena. Nick Powell made his first start for United at the tip of Ferguson’s diamond midfield. The only slightly older Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck started too, with Phil Jones making his first appearance of the season.

United, ultimately, were outmuscled by a Galatasaray side with much more to play for. Buruk Yilmaz leaped highest to head in a corner kick early in the second half but the hosts had the better of the chances.

Ferguson, though, was pleased with how his players performed. “The tempo was good, the crowd never affected them, the possession was good as was the attacking play without finishing them off. We had good opportunities in both halves. I thought we handled it ok.”

Certainly this game had more resting on it for Galatasaray than it did for Manchester United, as they hoped to finish second ahead of CFR Cluj or Braga. So they started at a fierce pace, with Felipe Melo and Semih Kaya jumping into tackles which they were fortunate to stay on the pitch for. Their best chance was a Burak Yilmaz header from a free-kick which flew over the bar.

United did play with nous and intelligence. Welbeck was their most impressive player, running the channels, holding up the ball and taking on defenders with regular success. A corner kick which he won just before the break was taken by Cleverly and headed onto the bar by Powell.

But it was a corner kick for Galatasaray which brought the opening goal. The hosts started the second half with as much energy as they did the first but more precision. Anders Lindegaard had to save twice before the decisive corner. Selcuk Inan swung the ball in and Yilmaz rose highest and headed the ball over Rafael and into the net.

Jones admitted United should have kept it out. “We should have switched on, it does happen” said the young defender. “We got punished, it just wasn’t our night.”

Galatasaray, once ahead, were roared forward by their magnificent support. The game opened up, though, and United did have some chances through Welbeck and Javier Hernandez.

United could not equalise, but this was certainly not as dispiriting as Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Norwich. “I thought we played extremely well,” said Darren Fletcher. “All the young players who played tonight did fantastic. To play in an atmosphere like this will put them in good stead for the future.”

Man of the match Welbeck.

Match rating 3/10.

Referee C V Carballo (Sp).

Attendance 43,000.

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Caption competition
Caption competition
News in pictures
World news in pictures
Sport blogs

iBet: Mercedes and Hamilton to roar in Monaco

Monaco is a street circuit where driver ability is more important than anywhere else and if we take ...

by Gareth Purnell

On The Road at the Giro d’Italia: It sounds sadistic, but the team live for the mountain stages

Three weeks ago as I drove off the Eurostar, I remember thinking what a very long time it was until ...

by Martin Ayres

iBet: Rose has the ammunition for Wentworth

McDowell did brilliantly to land the World Match Play title in Bulgaria last week, but it’s a format...

by Gareth Purnell

       
James Pembroke: The man who's eaten everywhere

The man who's eaten everywhere

Few people know more about restaurants than James Pembroke, who only spent five mealtimes at home during his entire childhood.
A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

The young JFK praised 'superior' Nordic races during visits to Germany
Banned Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof to attend Cannes Film Festival 2013, his first public appearance since prison

Banned Iranian director to attend Cannes Film Festival

Mohammad Rasoulof to make his first public appearance since being imprisoned three years ago
Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

An exhibition explores images how photography has shaped astronomy
Eat Spam and carry on: Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating

Eat Spam and carry on

Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating
Facial hair: Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence

Facial hair

Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence
The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

Whether they're for everyday use or to make your dining table look just right, it's worth getting a stylish shaker...
Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Chief executive says trophies will come if a 'core' of suitable players is in place
Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

The Bayern Munich forward tells Tim Rich his side have to shed chokers' tag after two recent final defeats
Giro d'Italia: The Stelvio Pass - cycling's killer climb

The Stelvio Pass - cycling's killer climb

As the Giro d'Italia tackles the brutal climb, Simon Usborne takes on the snow and switchbacks – and soon realises what the fuss is about
National archives: Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them

Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them

Newly unearthed papers reveal a shocking extra dimension to the constitutional crisis over monarch’s abdication
Sent down at the Old Bailey: A tour of the world's most famous court

Sent down at the Old Bailey

A tour of the world's most famous court
Hollywood's random acts of red-carpet kindness

Hollywood's random acts of red-carpet kindness

The Hangover actor Zach Galifianakis’s date for his movie premieres isn’t arm candy  – it’s his 87-year-old friend who he saved from homelessness
British football scores an own goal

British football scores an own goal

Many managers barely survive a year in post. Martin Baker talks to experts who make a case for clubs using forensic business skills to find the best staff
James Lawton: Sergio Garcia cracks as major fault line opens up again

James Lawton

Sergio Garcia cracks as major fault line opens up again