Manchester Utd 3 FC Copenhagen 0: Wayne Rooney's promotion to captain could not bring him his first Champions League goal in two years, but the Manchester United striker is entitled to cherish the memories nonetheless. Rooney wore the armband like a fashion statement and a routine win over the Danish champions makes it inconceivable that Alex Ferguson's team will fail to qualify for the knock-out stages.
With an immaculate record of three successive victories in Group F, United's significant improvement in Europe can be accurately gauged by the fact they could become one of the first teams to confirm their passage into the next phase when they visit the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen on November 1st.
Their latest win was accomplished courtesy of a splendid goal from Paul Scholes and two lucky ones, the first from John O'Shea and the other from Kieran Richardson, whose speculative shot went straight through the goalkeeper, though Ferguson was entitled to wonder how the margin of victory was not even more handsome on an evening tarnished only by the political intrigue behind the scenes.
The Glazer family's appearances have become increasingly rare and their padded leather seats in the directors' box were unused again last night.
There was plenty, however, for them to consider in the wake of the joint resignation of the finance director Nick Humby and the commercial director Andy Anson, both of whom have attained jobs elsewhere after becoming increasingly marginalised and disillusioned under the US owners.
As bombshells go, the departure of two largely unseen executives will scarcely register on the scale of crises and soap-opera storylines that come United's way, but it is another reminder that all may not be as hunky dory behind the scenes as the club would like to portray.
David Gill, the chief executive, described himself as "very disappointed" and the recruitment of qualified replacements may be far from straightforward given that prospective employees will have to deal with the perceived threat of constantly being overruled from Florida.
On the pitch, there is comparative tranquillity. FC Copenhagen were robust opponents but United are playing with the style and substance that befits a side who have spent most of the Premiership's opening two months squatting defiantly at the top of the league.
They sounded their intent when Rooney sent Louis Saha scampering clear inside the opening 30 seconds and there were three more splendid opportunities before the goalkeeper Jesper Christiansen was finally beaten.
Patrice Evra, United's most improved player, instigated the move, surging forward on the left. Saha touched the ball into Scholes's path and his shot from just outside the penalty area was still rising as it soared beyond Christiansen.
United's slick, attacking football possessed much to be admired given that there was a maze of fun-house mirrors for Ferguson to navigate before a ball had even been kicked.
The manager had to reconfigure his team on two occasions in quick succession, Ryan Giggs complaining of feeling unwell in the warm-up and asked to be put on the bench, followed by Rio Ferdinand pulling out with a cricked neck.
In came Darren Fletcher and Wes Brown, with Rooney pulling on the captain's armband with discernible pride.
It was the first time in his professional career that he has been asked to take such a role and for a man who will not be 21 until next Tuesday, he should regard it as the highest compliment that Ferguson could pay when there were players such as Scholes and Edwin van der Sar also under consideration.
Presumably Ferguson did not even consider Michael Carrick, the £18 million acquisition from Tottenham Hotspur whose impact has been anything but immediate.
Carrick's performance was laced with all the usual nice touches, a clever pass here and there and a good appreciation of the game, but it is time he started to regard himself a big-game player who can dominate matches, particularly when the team has been deprived of several key figures.
Last night, however, it is only a small criticism. Scholes's first goal of the season soothed any nerves and the second arrived so early in the second half Ferguson was still making his way along the touchline.
Cristiano Ronaldo swung over a corner from the left and the manager ended up celebrating with the front row after the ball struck O'Shea's standing foot and ricocheted over the goal-line.
It was a goal laced with good fortune, as was Richardson's, but Ferguson will not mind that after his concerns before the game and the continue goal drought that continues to haunt out-of-form Rooney.
Guardian Service
MANCHESTER UTD: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Brown, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick (Solskjaer 60), Scholes (Richardson 76), Fletcher, Saha (Smith 60), Rooney. Subs not used: Kuszczak, David Jones. Booked: Evra.
FC COPENHAGEN: Christiansen, Jacobsen, Hangeland, Gravgaard, Wendt, Silberbauer (Bergvold 81), Linderoth, Norregaard (Kvist 57), Hutchinson, Berglund (Pimpong 57), Allback. Subs not used: Gall, Thomassen, Brandrup, Hansen.
Referee: Jan Wegereef (Holland).
