ManUtd.com assesses how each Manchester United player performed against Athletic Club...
David De Gea: The goalkeeper could fill this ratings report on his own, after his outstanding performance gave United a glimmer of hope for the second leg. He made a variety of stops, not just trademark flying saves like the one from Iker Munaian early in the second half, but also some vital blocks.
Rafael: The Brazilian will surely bounce back from a tough night, and learn from the momentary switch-off that allowed Muniain to bag the killer third goal.
Chris Smalling: Eight days after his head injury with England, Smalling could have picked an easier opponent than Fernando Llorente. Beaten for a header that flew just wide on the half-hour mark, he slipped just before the big striker levelled the scores. He had to leave the field early in the second half when his Wembley wound re-opened.
Jonny Evans: Despite the scoreline, the centre-back was possibly United’s best outfield player, putting in some excellent changes and bringing the ball forward when he could. His only noticeable blemish was allowing Markel Susaeta to outpace him for a one-on-one in the first half; mercifully the midfielder missed the target.
Patrice Evra: Besieged early on as Athletic Club attacked down his flank, the skipper inadvertently played a major role in their third goal – he was penalised rather harshly for passing the ball without his boot on.
Ashley Young: Starting on the right, he was one of United’s livelier threats in the first half when
counter-attacking opportunities presented themselves. Tracked back well and had to - but unlike in recent games for club and country, he couldn’t find the killer cross or goal.
Phil Jones: Ever-present in Europe this season, his selfless starting role in the engine room was geared to let Ryan Giggs push forward and thread balls into United’s front two. When Smalling got injured, however, he moved back into his more customary position for a difficult shift in central defence.
Ryan Giggs: Equalling Paolo Maldini’s record of 902 appearances for one club, he helped create the first goal by teeing up Javier Hernandez’s initial shot. There were other flashes of skill that just failed to pay off before he was withdrawn for the final 15 minutes.
Ji-sung Park: It was an uncharacteristically quiet night for the Korean, who was obliged to drop back and help out his under-pressure pal Patrice Evra. He consequently left the fray in the first unforced change and will hope to make more of an impact in his next game.
Wayne Rooney: The striker took his goal tally for the season to 24 with a poacher’s opener and a well-executed injury-time penalty – and he also went close when a free-kick whistled just wide. This wasn’t his finest hour as a playmaker, however, with some unusually errant passing.
Javier Hernandez: The Mexican assisted both goals for his attack partner, twisting inside for a left-foot strike that Iraizoz parried to Rooney and then winning the penalty late on when his cross-cum-shot was handled by De Marcos. But Chicharito didn’t test the keeper often enough for this to be one
Substitutes
Michael Carrick (for Smalling, 55): If Plan A was to rest the pivotal midfielder, then Plan B was brought hurriedly forward as the game began to ebb away from United. Carrick helped the Reds to regain a foothold in the tie and he’s almost certain to start the second leg.
Anderson (for Park, 61): The Brazilian made a welcome return after a 10-match absence and showed enough to suggest he could be an asset to the Reds in the run-in.
Nani (for Giggs, 75): The Portuguese tried hard to improve United’s penetration in the latter stages but unfortunately couldn’t fashion any clear-cut chances in his quarter-hour on the field.
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