His answers may have been directed to the journalists in front but Sir Alex Ferguson's gaze wandered more than once beyond the rows of seated pressmen to a TV high on a wall in the Europa Suite at Old Trafford. The same went for Cristiano Ronaldo and, turning around, it soon became obvious why: there on the screen were the highlights of United's crucial comeback win against Aston Villa FC 24 hours earlier.
Late winner
Victories snatched from the jaws of defeat are part of the very fabric of Sir Alex's Manchester United FC. The last-gasp Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær goals that earned United their improbable comeback against FC Bayern München in the 1999 UEFA Champions League final were not unique. United only lifted the FA Cup that same treble-winning season because of a similar smash-and-grab against Liverpool FC in the fourth round, when Dwight Yorke and Solskjær scored to overturn a lead Liverpool had held for 86 minutes. Six years before that an injury-time brace from defender Steve Bruce against Sheffield Wednesday FC put United on course for their first league title in 26 years.
Galvanised
It is fitting that Solskjær should earn a mention here given the erstwhile United scoring hero is now overseeing the progress of the young Italian forward who, at 5.48 on Sunday evening – or in the third minute of injury time – ensured Old Trafford's loudest and longest celebration this season. Substitute Federico Macheda's winner on his United debut has, in the words of Sir Alex, "galvanised" a United team who would otherwise have finished the weekend in second place in the Premier League, the initiative surrendered to Liverpool.
'Challenge'
Speaking on the eve of FC Porto's UEFA Champions League quarter-final visit, United's manager revealed how the 17-year-old had risen to a challenge laid down by Solskjær just days earlier, prior to a reserve match against Newcastle United FC. "Ole Gunnar was told to tell him last Monday that if he did well in the reserve team he would be on the bench on Sunday. It was a challenge to him and he went and scored a hat-trick. I like to see that in young lads who want to get there."
Spectacular winner
Lured to England from S.S. Lazio at the age of 16, Macheda – or Kiko as he is known – is following in the footsteps of so many other talented young players who have developed under Sir Alex's tutelage, including Ryan Giggs, a man twice his age, whose pass led to the Italian's strike. Whatever the future brings for the youngster – who "will be involved on the bench" for the first leg against Porto according to his manager - he has already earned a place in Old Trafford's affections, after turning and firing that spectacular winner.
'Incredible moments'
"Amazing" was the verdict of Ronaldo, who added: "He's a clever boy, he knows how to listen and he wants to improve." As for Sir Alex, he described Macheda's goal as "just one of those incredible moments". The Scot, of course, has seen a few of those in his time. And they have tended to fall on the path to a trophy. No wonder he fancied another look.
(From Website : http://www1.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/talkfootball/blogs/newsid=817257.html)
