Source: Daily_Mail
Martin Samuel: Now Fabio Capello can feed off a slice of the old Wayne Rooney
Fabio Capello was on his way back to London by the time Wayne Rooney sliced an attempted clearance backwards by mistake, sending it looping towards his own goal.[LNB]Probably just as well, really. Capello has enough stress in his life right now dealing with politics around the England captaincy, not to mention sending out a search party for Rio Ferdinand. He could do without the added worry of the vagaries of Rooney's form.[LNB]Fortunately, before this isolated blip and Rooney was not the only one inside Old Trafford feeling the pressure by that time there was enough to suggest a corner has been turned.[LNB]Capello's tension headache would have lifted greatly at the sight of Rooney's involvement in Manchester United's first goal within the first five minutes.[LNB]The best news the England manager could receive this week in any week, really is that Rooney is back to his best. [LNB] Relieved: Capello (right) and Franco Baldini[LNB]Maybe he is not quite there yet, certainly not where he was last season, on course to overtake Cristiano Ronaldo's 42-goal haul until injury intervened. Yet, increasingly, the signs are that this is a player who is back on track. [LNB]Most pleasingly for Capello, Rooney's club role is now clearly defined as that of a No 10; the position he favours with England. [LNB]Capello thought he saw evidence of a reinvigorated Rooney against Arsenal in the FACup on Saturday. [LNB]He believed that was Rooney's best performance of the season in a Manchester United shirt. As if to prove it was no flash in the pan, Rooney carried on where he left off in the early exchanges against Marseille. [LNB]He was the architect of United's first goal which, initially, had a soothing effect on the crowd; and perhaps on Capello, too. [LNB]Encouraging signs: A fully functioning Rooney can fire Manchester United beyond the quarter-final stage[LNB]Rooney was involved twice in the build-up, and his first touch was among the finest moments of the game. He played a perfectly weighted curling ball out to Ryan Giggs on the left, then made an incisive surge into the penalty area, ready to collect the return. When Giggs duly obliged, Rooney threaded the ball between two defenders to find Javier Hernandez, no more than a yard from the goal-line, for an effortless finish. [LNB]This was perfect Rooney, in the capacity Capello likes him best. He believes he can play a variety of positions, but prefers him as the second striker what Capello calls the No 10 behind a goalscoring foil. That is certainly how Capello plans to use him against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday week, providing Andy Carroll is fit enough to be England's battering ram, as Emile Heskey was in the World Cup qualifiers. [LNB]Now, with Rooney behind Hernandez and, before that, with Dimitar Berbatov, out of favour as the Mexican thrives a plan is coming together. Capello would rather see Rooney find his feet as a forward midfielder than as a No 9 because it is the position he has earmarked. He wants the striker to draw the heat, as Heskey did, leaving Rooney free to operate in the spaces between. As Carroll is a more prolific scorer than Heskey could hope to be, it is Capello's conviction that this England striking partnership will have even greater potency than the last. [LNB]When Rooney is on form, everything positive about United passes through him. It is obvious why England suffered without his influence in the World Cup. It is no coincidence, either, that his best performance of the season at any level against Switzerland in a European Championship qualifier coincided with England's most complete display since returning from South Africa.[LNB]So many theories have been advanced for his poor showing in the summer and the reality is probably a cocktail of them all, but Capello remains under no illusion that, without Rooney at his best, England's chances are substantially reduced, no matter who has the captain's armband. [LNB]Equally, if there is a case to make for Manchester United striving for glory on three fronts, it is that their status as Premier League leaders, FA Cup semi-finalists and Champions League quarter-finalists has been achieved largely without their prime asset at full potential. [LNB]He was not entirely at his peak here, yet showed vast improvement on the lacklustre, insipid figure from earlier in the season. Always available, always involved, his range of passing spoke of a unique talent, hidden for too long. [LNB] Double act: Hernandez and Rooney are dovetailing beautifully[LNB]'He has been a real threat in the last couple of games,' said Sir Alex Ferguson. 'He is in really good form behind Hernandez and showing great power and speed on the ball.' [LNB]That United were made to sweat was not the fault of the forwards. Asked about ChrisSmalling's international prospects this week, Capello said he was a different player beside Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic. [LNB]Smalling's partner on Tuesday night was Wes Brown and the fragility showed. A play on his name, 'Where's Brown?' was the running joke until he answered that question by heading into his own net with seven minutes remaining. [LNB]Brown retired from international football at the beginning of the season. At least it is one less thing for Capello to agonise over. [LNB] Pea is for perfect! Hernandez is United's hero against Marseille and Rooney roars: Bring on BarcelonaManchester United 2 Marseille 1 (agg 2-1): Hernandez at the double as nervy United seal place in last eightFergie recalls Amos following news Lindegaard has undergone surgeryAll the latest Manchester United news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Emile Heskey, Alex Ferguson, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nemanja Vidic, Ryan Giggs, Fabio Capello, Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown Places: Cardiff, London, United Kingdom, Wales, South Africa, Switzerland
