DICK Advocaat was among the distinguished guests at Old Trafford last night. Having been held culpable for Ruud van Nistelrooy's chronic loss of confidence in front of goal by Sir Alex Ferguson, for having the temerity to substitute him in a recent qualifier, the Dutch national coach's attendance was as much a diplomatic exercise as official KNVB business.
With the striker's stage-fright stop-watched at 9 hours 39 minutes of open play before last night's inevitable feasting, the former Rangers manager will have had mixed emotions. The return to form of Holland's most predatory poacher is a boon for the perennially embattled national coach and, thus, an ominous sign for Scotland ahead of their Euro 2004 play-off, but last night's intervention may have catastrophic consequences for the aspirations of Advocaat's former employers.
Manchester United's swaggering superiority in all areas would be enough to sap the self-belief of even the most assured of Alex McLeish's men. With Rangers' domestic deficit now compounded by their critical condition in the Champions League, these are turbulent times.
Craig Moore's premature departure, presumably because of his persistent injury problem, summed up this painful gouging. Diego Forlan was first to inflict suffering on the Scottish champions, the Uruguayan's fourth goal an intriguing statistic considering only two years ago Dundee were apparently offered his services for one-fifth of the (pounds) 5m Ferguson forked out to Independiente.
His volley after six minutes served notice that this would make perverse viewing for an away support strewn with well-kent faces. Advocaat, Jimmy Calderwood, Jimmy Nicholl, Ally McCoist et al must have winced at the ease with which Manchester United taunted and teased.
Suffice to say, the pre-match optimism of the 3700-strong travelling support was quickly punctured. The sight of Arthur Numan, club colours draped around his neck, strolling down Old Trafford Way and mingling with masses prove all too much for the less conspicuous consumers. ''Haw, Arfur, gonnae get yer boots oan big man?'' said one star-struck spectator, to embarrassed acknowledgment from the Dutchman whose retirement has been spent in Scotland.
Though crudely executed, the point was pertinent: in the biggest match for many a year, Numan's haring flank play in his prime would have been a considerable asset to McLeish. Given the bedazzling display of Christiano Ronaldo, the
35-year-old will have been thankful for a seat in the stand.
Michael Ball has proven to be a more than adequate replacement and with Sven- Goran Eriksson in attendance, the Liverpudlian had even greater motivation to impress.
The general groaning that greeted the arrival of cut-price geriatrics such as Henning Berg, Nuno Capucho, Paolo Vanoli and Emerson in the summer has largely abated but McLeish's fortification of a frail squad has not entirely been to the detriment of youth development as last night's line-up proved.
Stephen Hughes' second start of the season may have been a result of a shortage of options, with Christian Nerlinger and Fernando Ricksen sustaining injuries against Partick Thistle, but his partnership with Mikel Arteta is one of the youngest in recent memory. It proved the steepest of learning curves.
Critical of the space afforded to the Spaniard in the first game at Ibrox, Ferguson ensured his midfielders would not be so accommodating second time around. Roy Keane and Phil Neville kept almost claustrophobic company with their counterparts, their dual dynamism dispiriting Hughes and causing Arteta anxiety on the few occasions he managed to get the ball firmly at his feet.
Frustrated by this blood-red blockade, Arteta was resigned to lateral passes and speculative long balls but, with Michael Mols' physical limitations magnified in confrontation with the majestic Rio Ferdinand, Rangers were a team invited to pass their way into trouble. It was never far from their doorstep as United intensified the European education from a fortnight ago.
Ronaldo whizzed around the wing in comic-book fashion. The 18-year-old is a unique talent. His trademark shuffle makes him look like an incontinent canine so frequently is his right leg hitched up. Ball could only watch bewildered at this creative blur.
On the other side, the usually unflappable Zurab Khizanishvili was panic stricken when presented with the pace and purpose of Ryan Giggs' thrusts. By the time van Nistelrooy speared the Scots for a second time, even Advocaat must have prayed for the end of his goal-scoring gluttony.
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