Ronaldo, Fletcher herald bright future for United

Manchester United8217;s 3-0 FA Cup final victory over Millwall on Saturday might have been too one-sided to rekindle the romance of the old...

Manchester United8217;s 3-0 FA Cup final victory over Millwall on Saturday might have been too one-sided to rekindle the romance of the old competition, but Alex Ferguson will not be worried by that.

Instead he believes that collecting his 28th major prize as a manager with Aberdeen in Scotland and Manchester United in England heralds the way to a brighter future for the 2003 champions after the relative disappointments of this season.

Unsettled by David Beckham8217;s move to Real Madrid last July and deeply wounded by Rio Ferdinand8217;s eight-month ban for missing a dope test in September, United were powerless to stop Arsenal claiming the title and Chelsea from seizing the runners-up slot.

Yet Ferguson, 62 and in no mood to retire, believes he has enough good young players to take United back to the top in both England and Europe, where they failed to make the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in eight years.

The outstanding young jewel in his side is 19-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, widely seen as the Man of the Match in United8217;s 11th FA Cup final victory 8211; even if Guest of Honour Sven-Goran Eriksson, the England manager, strangely nominated Ruud Van Nistelrooy for the award.

Ronaldo, the first Portuguese player ever to appear in the final, became the fourth youngest scorer in the history of the final with the important opening goal after 44 minutes.

His runs, passing, crossing and audacious displays of talent, including a 8220;behind-the-leg8221; reverse cross from which Paul Scholes might have scored, totally unhinged the Millwall defence.

Story continues below this ad

United8217;s 20-year-old midfielder Darren Fletcher, a product of the club8217;s youth system, also had an impressive match.

The Scot made some forceful runs and one wonderful dribble from the halfway line through the Millwall rearguard, only to lose his nerve at the last moment and shoot weakly at the keeper. Ferguson was delighted with his team and especially with Ronaldo, saying: 8220;If we look after him in the right way, he is going to be one of the stars of football.8221;

Certainly, the youngster who cost over 12 million pounds 21.49 million from Sporting Lisbon finished his first season in English soccer with a flourish.

United defender Gary Neville added: 8220;Ronaldo in particular was brilliant. I think he can be a world class player. He is only 19 and to come with the massive price tag he did, he has done very well for us.8221; Reuters