Manchester United are in the quarter finals courtesy of Cristiano Ronaldo’s 30th goal of the season but, if they have genuine aspirations of winning the European Cup again, there might have to be a discernible improvement in the next phase of the competition.

Ferguson was not too harsh on his players because, on the whole, it was an evening of rich satisfaction, with United equalling a Champions League record, set by Juventus in 1997, with a 10th successive win on their own ground. Yet the manager had a valid point. Old Trafford is a seductive place under floodlights and these occasions tend to bring out the best in his men but this was a peculiar performance featuring some exhilarating attacking football but also pockets of action when the players in red – Ronaldo included – looked strangely out of sorts.

In those moments the stadium reverberated to the sound of heavy groans as passes were misplaced and usually reliable individuals such as the Portuguese and Wayne Rooney were guilty of making poor decisions in dangerous areas.

Instead it was another night when Ronaldo demonstrated his ability not just to decorate games but to have a decisive impact. Two more goals and he will equal George Best’s total of 32 from the 1967-68 season, a record for a United winger, and when he was substituted in stoppage time the crowd have him a standing ovation.

 Wallpaper : Manchester United 1 Lyon 0

manutd 1 lyon 0