To nearly everyone’s surprise, Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez have struck a very formidable one-two combination, which will give Manchester United a very good chance of landing their fourth UEFA Champions League trophy.Because of their contrasting styles of play, their potent partnership, which can certainly be characterized as United’s version of “Thunder and Lightning,” is causing all sorts of problems for opposing defenders.
As everyone knows by now, Rooney is a very bullish center forward that leaves even the strongest of defenders beaten and bruised, however, his new-found counterpart, Chicharito, is a deceptively quick, elusive striker that can beat any defender for pace, and that will strike fear into many their opposition’s mind.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s unimaginable dynamic duo has certainly taken everyone by surprise, and now FC Schalke 04, who United will face in the semifinals, will be doing everything in their power to negate their uncanny understanding.
Timely
Playing just his first season in Champions League, Chicharito looks like a seasoned professional, because he is not enamored by the biggest of occasions. The young Mexican, who signed for United last April, has scored three of the Reds five goals in in Knockout stages.
The 22-year old’s goals-to-game ratio since joining United is at an impressive 0.49, however, Chicharito’s goals-to-shot ratio is off the charts. What is most amazing about his treble of goals is that Hernandez only registered four shots.
It should go without saying that the energetic striker has many glowing attributes that has allowed him to settle into the English and European game, but it is exceptional ability to race across his defender to get on the end of a cross that makes him most potent.
While Hernandez is better playing off the ball and challenging the last defender with his pace, his partner is better dropping off a little deeper.
Playmaker
With a bit of surprise, it was nice to see Rooney excel last season when the Reds needed a go-to man in terms of goal scoring, but to be honest, he is much better served in a more expressive role.
Not many players have the ability to score 34 goals in a season, which shows just how good of an all-around player Rooney is. What is crazy to think, is that type of role limits Rooney, and he is not as influential.
Against Chelsea, Rooney ran his socks off, but he also made some sprayed the ball around the Old Trafford pitch with conviction and purpose. The first goal will be remembered for Ryan Giggs involvement and Chicharito’s finish, however, without Rooney’s precise cross-field ball that goal would have never happened.
Even before that goal, Rooney played a terrific cross into the box that Hernandez quickly scampered across his defender to head the ball into the Chelsea, but the eagle-eyed linesman flagged quickly for offside, but it showed the instinctive intent of these two players working in unison.
Excluded
Unfortunately, Rooney and Hernandez’s connection means that Sir Alex is left with a tough task of leaving Dimitar Berbatov on the bench. To his disappointment, Berbatov only played 12 minutes against Chelsea in the quarterfinals, however, that could benefit United domestically.
Berbatov has totaled 21 goals in Barclays Premier League goals this season, which not only plants him at the top of the league’s goal scoring leaders, but it also equals his goal tally from his first two seasons at Old Trafford. Wanting to prove that he still has an important role to play, Berbatov could use this unwanted rest to his favor and lead the Reds to the Premier League and FA Cup titles as well.
It is definitely not an easy decision for Sir Alex to leave Berbatov out, but he has to think which two players will give the Reds the best chance of winning, and in the Champions League it is Rooney and Hernandez. To further prove that point, Berbatov has only scored four goals in 21 Champions League appearances, but all of those goals game in two games.
Submitted by The United Religion
