Fergie happy with Nani - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Fergie happy with Nani

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson has declared his satisfaction with Nani's contribution to the Manchester United cause since the winger's £17million arrival from Sporting Lisbon.

The 21-year-old has not even made the bench at times during his maiden Premier League campaign, but he was one of the most effective performers in United's encouraging 1-1 Champions League draw with AS Roma on Wednesday night and Ferguson is confident he has a big future with the club.

"Nani is settling in very well at our club. When we brought him here, we told him he would not play all the time," said Ferguson. "We will get injuries as the season goes on. But the times he has played, Nani has done well, particularly in the first-half (on Wednesday night) when he was a big threat."

Despite fielding a team which - captain Wayne Rooney aside - will almost certainly be completely changed for the trip to Merseyside, United came within 19 minutes of recording only their third win on Italian soil.

Spain Under-21 defender Gerard Pique put the Red Devils ahead with a firm header just past the half hour mark.

Had Louis Saha finished off a Wayne Rooney through-ball, United would surely have gone on to win

Instead, Mancini levelled with an excellent second half effort to end the Red Devils' 100% record in the competition.

"I am very satisfied with the overall performance, although I was a bit disappointed in the second-half because we gave away the ball too much," said Ferguson.

Sadly, the game was overshadowed by more trouble outside the stadium.

Five United fans needed hospital treatment for stab wounds and another two were arrested, proving that while the violence was not comparable to that which erupted on United's last visit in April, the scourge of hooliganism still remains.

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