Suddenly, the turmoil of the summer seems a long time ago.
Certainly it felt that way at Old Trafford last night as Wayne Rooney joined Manchester United's exclusive 200 club, scoring twice as David Moyes' side opened their Champions League campaign with an encouraging win over Bayer Leverkusen.
Rooney put the Barclays Premier League champions ahead midway through the first half with a first-time effort from Patrice Evra's cross, although Bayer Leverkusen argued with some justification that an offside Antonio Valencia had impeded goalkeeper Bernd Leno. Still, it did not look like being a particularly memorable night for the England forward - who had agitated to leave the club over the summer - when his inexplicable failure to either tap into an empty net or provide an opportunity for Robin van Persie to do so after he had circumvented Leno was followed within a minute by Simon Rolfes' equaliser.
However, Van Persie soon restored United's advantage before Rooney entered the history books as he seized on the loose ball after Emir Spahic had got his head to David de Gea's long punt downfield and finished with ease. It was a landmark effort that meant Rooney emulated Sir Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and Jack Rowley by scoring 200 United goals.
"I said several months ago Wayne Rooney could join the real greats with his goal scoring," said a delighted Moyes. "He could have got a hat trick. He deserved the ovation he got, he was terrific. I know he has been great in training. He is lean and fit, it showed in his performance. Robin van Persie's goal was also great. If we can get those two scoring, they can be formidable for us.
More importantly in the short-term, it launched Moyes' Champions League career in the perfect style as Rooney provided a late fourth for Antonio Valencia after a coruscating counter. "It was a good job," added the manager. "The players knew what they had to do, and they went about it well."
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