Otelul Galati vs Manchester United preview - Fergie ready to let Rooney loose

Posted Tuesday, October 18, 2011 by PA

Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to let Wayne Rooney loose on Champions League foes Otelul Galati.

Under normal circumstances, a trip to face the ailing Romanian champions, sandwiched in between key Premier League fixtures against Liverpool and Manchester City would be the cue for Ferguson to rest many of his senior players.

That opportunity was denied to the Manchester United boss when his team tossed away a two-goal lead against Basle at Old Trafford three weeks ago.

Ashley Young salvaged a point for the Red Devils but with just two points from their opening two games, United presently lie third in Group C and urgently in need of victory against a side who are yet to pick up a point.

So Rooney, surprisingly omitted from Ferguson's starting line-up for the weekend trip to Anfield because he was "devastated" at picking up a three-match ban that would rule him out of the entire European Championships if England failed to emerge from their group, will get his chance.

"He'll be playing tomorrow," Ferguson declared.

"When the initial news came through it was a definite blow for him. He didn't expect that. None of us did.

"It was a silly action but it wasn't seriously dangerous. When he realised getting a three-match ban meant missing all the games for England and might not be involved at all, it is not easy to qualify in major championships, that resonated in Wayne's mind.

"But actually, when he came on he was quite bubbly. He was full of energy and enthusiasm.

"He was desperate to get on, which is good. When he was sat watching the game he probably said, `Christ I could be out there'."

Last week, when United players were scattered far and wide on international duty, Otelul had all theirs still at the club, with not a single call-up.

It is a quite extraordinary situation for any team at this level of the game.

Little wonder it was suggested they were too respectful, fearful almost, of Benfica in the same stadium a fortnight ago, when they lost 1-0.

"It will not be like that again," said coach Dorinel Munteanu. "I am convinced of that.

"I have only been a coach for five years, so it is fairly obvious to say this will be the biggest night of my career. But I intend there to be many more."