Italian media united about 'unplayable' Wayne Rooney's quality

The Italian press is divided this morning over whether or not the Champions League tie between AC Milan and Manchester United is over after United’s 3-2 victory in the first leg in the San Siro stadium last night, but all the papers agree that Milan might be in far better shape if they had had a finisher of the calibre of Wayne Rooney, who scored with two second-half headers.

"The unplayable Rooney made the difference between Milan and United,” was the verdict of Corriere dello Sport. “Milan created, Rooney destroyed. And that’s the essence of the match at the San Siro between the rossoneri and Manchester United.

“Milan will have to accomplish a difficult mission at Old Trafford after having only a 3-2 defeat to show for some great football that they couldn’t turn into a result.

“Leonardo’s team dominated the match, especially in the first half, but froze in front of goal, once, twice, three times. And then Rooney, the England phenomenon, decided it with an eight-minute double.”

Il Giornale noted that United had waited a long time to beat Milan on its home turf. “Manchester United’s night came at last,” it wrote. “At the fifth attempt, the English fleet conquered the taboo of the San Siro. Milan played well for 30 minutes, but Rooney took centre stage.”

Gazetta dello Sport noted that United had had to soak up plenty of punishment before claiming a victory that had seemed unlikely. The visitors it said, “like an Italian team from another era, conquered San Siro and took a firm grip on qualification for the Champions League quarter-finals. Milan now face a daunting challenge to qualify in the second leg.”

“The first encounter between the devils goes to Manchester United," said Corriere della Sera. "The red devils prevailed 3-2 over the rossoneri devils.” But it added optimistically that “a late goal from [Clarence] Seedorf gives Milan some hope for the second leg."

La Repubblica quoted Leonardo, the Milan manager, as they also attempted to keep hope alive for the second leg. "We can win 2‑0 in Manchester, we played well enough to have been 3‑0 up in the first half of this match."