United hopes go up in smoke

For two minutes after Patrice Evra's spectacular goal at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday, Manchester United fans were allowed to dream that their Champions League campaign would not end in a quarterfinal exit at the hands of holders Bayern Munich.

Bayern's response, though, was typically ruthless, hitting back instantly and then delivered two more killer blows which had United out for the count – 3-1 on the night, 4-2 on aggregate – long before the final whistle.

 

While the German champions once again showed menacing consistency in grinding down their rivals even under the greatest pressure, United's collapse after the Frenchman's thunderbolt illustrated all their weaknesses in their first season under David Moyes.

The Scot's gamble on Wayne Rooney and his injured toe backfired with the England striker a pale shadow of his usual self. Javier Hernandez, who had scoring two goals in United's last two games, was introduced only as a late substitute.

But any lineup or formation at the disposal of Moyes would probably have been insufficient to match Bayern's tactical and technical prowess, which left United's midfield chasing shadows and the back four defending with last-gasp tackles and blocks.

With next term's Champions League football almost certainly out of United's reach, the focus at Old Trafford in the last few weeks of the season will be on the big decisions set to be made when it finally comes to an end. 

Under fire from some of the fans and looking largely uncomfortable, Moyes is still likely to be given more time to settle in the uncharted territory of steering a club with the highest ambitions.

Whether he will be given a massive war-chest to spend on whatever transfer targets he picks is another matter.