Manchester: Wayne Rooney's headline-grabbing presence couldn't
inspire Manchester United to victory over Chelsea on Monday as the
title rivals played out a dull 0-0 draw in the Premier League's first
blockbuster match of the season.
David Moyes marked his first home game in charge of United with
the bold selection of Rooney against a club that has twice lodged
unsuccessful offers to sign the England striker this summer.
That
selection added extra spice to a game that is always eagerly
anticipated but, despite a standout performance from Rooney in his first
start of the season, neither team created a clear-cut chance in a
disappointing stalemate at Old Trafford.
Chelsea manager Jose
Mourinho opted surprisingly to start with no recognized striker, only
bringing on Fernando Torres after the 60 minutes, and was happy to leave
with a point that keeps his team unbeaten after three matches in his
second spell in charge. Chelsea is top of the early standings on seven
points.
"I think for us, after two home victories, to come to the
champions in their first match at home and get a point, I think it's
fine, it's positive," Mourinho said.
Continuing the traditions of
his predecessor Alex Ferguson, Moyes fielded an attacking lineup that
contained three strikers — including Rooney — but his team lacked the
attacking spark that lifted it to a season-opening 4-1 win at Swansea
last weekend.
Danny Welbeck wasted the home side's best chance,
scooping over from 10 yards out in the second half, but United found
Chelsea center backs John Terry and Gary Cahill an impenetrable barrier.
It was United's first 0-0 league draw at Old Trafford since 2009.
"I
thought if anyone created the chances, it was us," Moyes said. "It was a
tight game and we just didn't have the final cross or the final pass
tonight. But I thought we played very well."
Standing
shoulder-to-shoulder with Mourinho in the technical area and opposite an
overbearing stand bearing Ferguson's name, Moyes was given yet more
indications of the size of his daunting task at United.
His
decision to start with Rooney, however, showed he will be his own man at
United and he was treated to an impressive display from a striker who
was serenaded with chants from both sets of fans.
While United
supporters belted out "Rooney, Rooney" throughout, Chelsea's traveling
contingent replied with: "We'll see you next week" and "Sign him up."
It
must have been a strange evening for Rooney, who indicated to United
toward the end of last season that he wanted to leave and has been
relentlessly — and openly — pursued by Mourinho. He coped well, though.
Neat
and tidy throughout in his role behind Robin van Persie, he linked up
play well, tracked back, showed a good range of passing and had two
shots saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech. In the final moments,
Rooney attempted a bicycle kick from eight yards out but he failed to
connect.
"He's been great in training and anybody who was
watching might have seen a slightly leaner-looking Wayne," Moyes said.
"I thought he worked back, he tackled, he chased ... I think Wayne has a
positive mind at the moment.
"I think his performance tonight said enough."
Robin
van Persie has replaced Rooney as the leading striker at United but he
had a quiet night up against Terry and Cahill, with a 23rd-minute shot
into the side-netting the Dutchman's only real chance.
At the
other end, Oscar had two low efforts easily saved by United goalkeeper
David de Gea in the first half but Chelsea's counter-attacks were
sporadic and ineffective.
Despite fielding a plethora of
playmakers and attacking midfielders, Mourinho — strongly linked with
the United job before Moyes replaced Alex Ferguson — tellingly chose not
to start Juan Mata, who has been linked with a move away from Stamford
Bridge.
The Spain international — one of the league's top
performers last season — was on the bench with compatriot Torres, who
was introduced on the hour to finally give Chelsea an attacking outlet.
But it was United looking slightly more dangerous, Welbeck scooping over
the bar when well-placed after receiving Rooney's disguised pass.
Errors
remained frequent, though. One five-second passage of play summed the
game up, when Torres passed straight to Patrice Evra, who then slid the
ball out of play trying to find Van Persie.
In one of the many
subplots surrounding the game, John Terry and Rio Ferdinand played
against each other for the first time since Terry allegedly racially
abused Ferdinand's brother, Anton, in a league match in October 2011.
The pair shook hands before kickoff.