United raring to go after powering past Posh
Manchester United defender Phil Neville felt his side’s 6-0 drubbing of Peterborough provided the perfect warm-up for their Far East tour.
United depart for Hong Kong tomorrow where they will begin a series of four matches which concludes in Tokyo on July 31 – and on last night’s evidence they head to Asia in good shape.
Alex Ferguson fielded two separate teams for each half with the first one - led by Wayne Rooney – breaking down Peterborough’s stubborn resistance, while the second reaped the rewards.
Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy fired a hat-trick, the impressive Cristiano Ronaldo was on target twice and 18-year-old Italian marksman Guiseppe Rossi finished neatly after one surging run.
The one-sided outcome failed to provide Barry Fry with the scripted finish his colourful 31-year career deserved – the match was the former Posh manager’s testimonial – but United were grateful for the work-out.
“The first half was more difficult than the second. It was difficult to create chances in the first but once they started to tire our fitness kicked in and we scored some good goals,” Neville told MUTV.
“It felt great. It always feels good to play and it sets us up nicely to go on the tour, to get some more football in.”
Neville – who featured in the second half at London Road – predicts a bright future for Rossi who starred for United’s reserves last season.
“Anyone who has been watching the reserve team knows all about Guiseppe Rossi - he’s going to be a big player for us this season,” he said.
Peterborough may have been torn to shreds in the second half but Ferguson was pleased the sell-out 15,400 crowd had been entertained and the Scot paid a handsome tribute to Fry – one of football’s most popular figures.
“I think the nature of the night for Barry was great, it was great night for him and in the second half he saw some good football. I think that is what the fans came to see,” he said.
“It was a good work-out. Barry is a great character – one of the greatest in the game – and 31 years as a manager is a long time, over 1,500 matches. It’s a great career and I’m very pleased for him.”
Ferguson took a near full-strength squad to Peterborough with just Roy Keane and Wes Brown missing out through injury and Gabriel Heinze rested following his stint on international duty with Argentina.
Rooney took the captain’s armband for the first half ahead of the more obvious choice Rio Ferdinand, whose reluctance to sign a new contract has provoked Ferguson’s anger.
Meanwhile Ferguson also confirmed the club had received a bid for out-of-favour Brazilian midfielder Kleberson.
“We have had an offer from Celta Vigo, I think David Gill is talking to them and that is all I know at the moment,” said the Scot.
