AC Milan - Manchester United: Player Ratings
MILAN
Dida (7): For large stretches of the game the Brazilian could have spread out a large golf umbrella and practised his wet putting game. The vaunted and flaunted Red Devil artillery was basically composed of a cap gun and a water pistol, although when any danger did come near the man with the multiple partings was alert and on guard. Kudos to a defense that kicked sand in its critics’ faces.
Oddo (7.5): Much more offensive than in San Siro as Man U laid out a red carpet along the flank and barely troubled the ex-Lazio man in defense. Although his forward moves weren’t decisive he showed verve and pace along the line and ability to cross with persistence and danger.
Nesta (8): Maldini’s absence seemed to galvanise the veteran centre-back into a repeat of him at his previous youthful best with a supple and commanding display. He kept his younger team-mates in order, but, if truth were told, he was hardly troubled by a challenge worthy of the first leg rivals. Nevertheless, he dripped poise and class from start to end.
Kaladze (7): Calm and composed as well as accepting and giving orders with flair, Maldini’s ‘understudy’ may not have caused any sharp intakes of breath with dazzling play, he was a perfect piece in the machinery that ground up and spat out the visitors.
Jankulovski (6.5): Improvised and showing it in certain moves where he was caught out of position and leaving his team open to attack, the Milan stopper was perhaps the least convincing of the Rossoneri defenders, but did his job soberly.
Gattuso (9): If anybody could bottle this sort of pint-sized energy Duracell would go bust. Under that shaved head and bulldog underbite beats the heart of a true midfield warrior, capable of turning a world-class team like United into an apparent gang of asthmatic and arthritic old men. Almost shook Ancelotti’s jowls off at the end.
Pirlo (6): Not his best game as he failed to put shots on target with his habitual ease. The dead-ball chances were patent, but it was one of those nights where every little modification just led to a slightly different error.
Seedorf (8.5): A real old Dutch master, the number 10 galloped where others grazed, passing with incredible precision and moving with sense to tear the united rearguard apart, he scored an excellent goal and would only be a slight notch below the Plutonium-fuelled Gattuso.
Ambrosini (7): Workmanlike performance without the same shine as the illuminated Kaká and Seedorf. Combined defensive and offensive functions well without really being outstanding in either: a key, yet grey piece of the Rossoneri machinery.
Kaká (9): Although the screen may be pelted with knickers and slapped with handbags, I can’t give the Brazilian 22 a perfect ten. The inspiration he provides is just as vital as the perspiration that Gattuso provides to this team, but there’s this lingering – and self-admitted – suspicion that Kaká’s still got more to give. If some mad scientist manages to combine both players we may just have found a player capable of making Maradona or Pelé look like Timmy from South Park.
Inzaghi (6): Although Claudio Ranieri named him as the man to watch, SuperPippo was easy on the ‘Super’ as he showed that the heart still bets as strongly, but the legs can’t carry the body as swiftly. If he was back at his peak it may have been a different story, but the number 9 is finding it hard to keep up with the whippersnappers.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Van der Sar (6): The tall goalie who first hoisted Champions league silverware as an Amsterdammer was rolled and smoked by the Milanese he’d hope to see hammered flat and breadcrumbed. Not so much as his own fault – not even the age-old failings that have spattered an otherwise shining trajectory – but the fault of a defense that wasn’t up to scratch. Not as bad as Barthez’s recent experiences - two great saves - but bad enough to feel pity for a man who at least deserved a decent defense as he (probably) bows out of the Champions League.
O'Shea (5): Although there was nothing much wrong with O'Shea's defensive performance he seemed mesmerised by the san Siro spotlights and disappeared while waiting for instructions on how to proceed. Nothing that bad, just one of those that stood on the deck of the Titanic saluting and doing their job…
Brown (4): Iceberg
Vidic (6): The Serbian had pushed it to make the date, but was evidently unprepared to take on a Milan that had been badly painted as past it by a prematurely ejaculating British tabloid press that will now be either preparing the gallows or delivering one of those tacky patriotic balms. Given the circumstances – a gutsy showing.
Heinze (5): It’s a childish rhyme, but when he‘s good he’s very, very good, but when he’s bad he’s awful. The Albiceleste was found wanting yet again, many now starting to question if he expends too much effort of seeming to be busy rather than dosing it, learning from Passarella and predicting more than reacting.
Ronaldo (4): Stepovers that seemed to be bordering on the Mickey-taking – in a poor rather than wicked way – were all that the Portuguese star left at San Siro apart from a slight disappointment that the locals hadn’t seen anything that one of their own subs couldn’t do. In performance terms closer in liveliness to real namesake Ronald Reagan than the Milan man.
Fletcher (6): Not dire, but anodyne. The international scuffed his best shot wide but was hardly a scapegoat. Then again, with that sort of performance there’ll be calls for the lad to be put out to pasture. Predicted to be a hard man, but was too much of a softy in everything from attitude to finishing.
Scholes (7.5): The Gattuso of the Red Devils – what may seem like a backhanded compliment, but a true mark of respect. The flame-haired midfielder was ubiquitous at San Siro and wore the United badge with the pride and dogged determination it deserves. It’s a shame that his team-mates lacked his dedication to the MUFC cause.
Carrick (4): As disappointing as Mariah Carey without make-up.
Giggs (4): Too much energy invested in getting that perpetual frown to stay just the right side of constipated sapped his strength. Looked like a pork chop at a Bar Mitzvah on the right. The Welshman left his fans counting sheep as well as proving that his game as much as his head suffers from bald spots. If United fans had joked that some Milan men needed walking sticks, Giggsy Wiggsy needed a Zimmer frame.
Rooney (5): A shame that his play wasn’t as offensive as his mirror-cracking appearance, the number 8 was left exasperatedly short of real chances as nothing came his way and the Milan men kept him under tabs without much stress.
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I didn´t hear a dumber thing than this for months. How is this gonna help Juventus? 
