Manchester United are through to the Champions league group stages after a comfortable win in their second leg of qualifying in Brugge. A very important game for the club but the Brugge fans were up for it, in a very hostile arena. Louis van Gaal made two changes from the weekends game against Newcastle, changed the two midfielder with Herrera coming in for his first start of the season and Carrick also.

Brugge had the first chance of the game after a minute with Herrera losing it in midfield but free kick our way for handball. Herrera lack of game time and eager to please could of been factors in poor first half. Losing the ball, unfortunate when shooting and getting a yellow card early on.

The tie in United’s hands with two goals ahead and so possession was key for us in the game. Shaw made a great run after three minutes, linking up with Januzaj but couldn’t reach the pass back.

Our first goal came around the 21st minute with Memphis given room to cut in for the left to the edge of the box and pick our Rooney with perfectly weighted pass in between the defence. Rooney, 1on1 with the keeper to chipped it pass bolat.



Minutes later, Rooney received the ball outside the box, spotting Memphis’s run into the box with a great cross, however was unable to connect.

Memphis had a great opportunity again to score when he won the ball from the defender but hesitated to shoot and eventually when out for a corner.

Club Brugge had a decent spell before half time, Romero was called up on when De Sutter was through on goal and Sergio Romero got down to stop his effort. Daley Blind came close to heading the ball into his own goal, but the ball went wide of the post post and the corner flicked on by a Brugge player in the box.

With United looking To take full control over the game, van Gaal changed it to a midfield three. Bringing Schweinsteiger on Januzaj with many expecting, Herrera to make way, having received a yellow. But Januzaj was missing at times and pushed off the ball many times. Louis has given him a lot of game time, a rest could be ideal and will need building up to get him to a higher level.

Herrera staying on was key in the reds second goal with Memphis passing to Herrera in space on the right, who then assisted Rooney to tap it in for his second. The tie very much over at this point with Brugge needing five goal however they still played very open and Memphis found his way into the box to be brought down but no penalty.

Rooney’s hat-trick came on 56th minutes with Juan Mata finding Wayne on the edge of defence to slot it under the Brugge keeper Bolat. So after a long goal drought, Rooney scores three very important goals for himself.

Rooney again minutes later came close, charging at the goal but the keeper got a hand to his chip shot.



After 60 minutes, United made their second change with Ashley Young replacing Juan Mata, Mata created the most chance In the game with five.

After the change, our final goal came with Schweinsteiger on the half way line playing the perfect through-ball through the middle with Ander Herrera to run on to it and nock it past the keeper.

With the tie over, we took it easy with a tough game at the weekend to think about. Brugge stated to get opportunities with Vanaken hitting sweet volley on 66 minutes that hit the underside of the crossbar from 30 yards.

Javier Hernandez was brought on for goal scorer Ander Herrera, at the 80th minute United were awarded a penalty for unfortunate handball. Hernandez took it but slipped to send it wide on a greasy pitch after Heavy rain early. He also send a shot over the bar when across came into the box from young.



An important win for the club but an easy one against a team clearly with less quality and as their manager said needed a miracle to win it. From start to finish, United’s best player was Luke Shaw and that’s been said before this season, after last season we are finally seeing a class full back. Sometimes he does get caught out but his recovery is great too.

The rest of the defence and the keeper had very little to worry about, Romero’s play can make you feel anxious at time, his shot stopping is great but we still don’t know how good he his. So far not conceding a goal from opposition player.

The midfield looked better with three and suited player like Herrera, linking up with the attacker however we know anders very good at this. Carrick and Schweinsteiger can be effective in a European game, where mobility wasn’t a problem.

Juan Mata doesn’t attack the full back but cuts in to create chances and with the space in the game did well. creating five, more than any other Man United player. Memphis was great in linking up with Rooney, especially the assist for the first goal and should of scored himself in the first half.

I felt the game was made for Rooney to get e few goals, his movement was great and a hat trick will do nicely to getting more.

Hernandez didn’t have the great time on the pitch, first missing the penalty and the close range chance but didn’t effect the game.

Man United are back the champions league group stage, were this club should always be.