Wayne Rooney of Manchester United in action during the
pre-season friendly match at Aberdeen.
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood paid tribute to
Manchester United veterans Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs after the
Champions League holders cruised to a 2-0 win in their challenge
match at Pittodrie.
A first-half penalty from Michael Carrick and a Wayne Rooney
header after the break demonstrated the superiority of the visitors
who were never in any trouble. Afterwards Calderwood
pinpointed the talents of Scholes and Giggs in particular, saying:
"It was a worthwhile exercise and a wonderful learning process for
our players.
"You could see the quality of the United players. "When you
see older players like Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, their attitude,
hunger, touch and vision - it was fabulous."
Dons striker Darren Mackie had a goal ruled out for offside
before United were awarded a penalty a minute before the interval
when keeper Jamie Langfield brought down Rooney inside the box
after the England striker had latched on to a defence-splitting
pass from Carrick. Calderwood believed his side were
wronged on both occasions. "I thought we did really well in
the first half when they were at their strongest," the Dons boss
said.
Jonny Evans headsclear during the pre-season
friendly match between Aberdeen and Manchester United.
"I don't think Darren Mackie's goal was offside and I spoke to
Wayne after the game and he said his touch was too heavy and he
wouldn't have caught the ball at this stage of the
season. "But they got the penalty. "However, all in
all, it was a fantastic work-out."
A near sell-out crowd of 20,500 turned up at Pittodrie for the
testimonial game in honour of the Aberdeen side that won the
European Cup Winners' Cup 25 years ago in Gothenburg when United
boss Sir Alex Ferguson was manager at Pittodrie.
Ferguson took the microphone after the game and addressed the
Dons crowd, saying: "It was an emotional day for many
reasons. "The squad (of 25 years ago) were a fantastic bunch
of lads. "Many teams never win a European trophy but it's part
of Aberdeen's history, they have won a European trophy."
