Although Deco did not play particularly well in the first half and is said to have been carrying a knock, it was Luiz Felipe Scolari's decision to replace the Portugal midfielder with Nicolas Anelka that allowed United to produce the pacy, balanced second-half performance that destroyed Chelsea.
By opening up his 4-5-1 system so quickly, having conceded from a corner on the stroke of half-time, Scolari emptied the midfield area. Anelka generally disappoints when playing with a partner, while Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard need Mikel John Obi to sit tight in behind as their insurance. Here they lost that compactness. In the first half, with United's 4-4-2 against Chelsea's 4-5-1, Wayne Rooney dropped deeper when the visitors had possession, equalising midfield combat and stopping Mikel from receiving the ball off his back players, and Lampard closed Darren Fletcher quickly when United had the ball in their defence.
Rooney was superb at times, fiery throughout. In the second half he could play further forward and Dimitar Berbatov sprang to life once he was not in isolation, as his running-mate found space between Chelsea's backline and their midfield. But all United's players did well. Ryan Giggs danced in midfield, while Patrice Evra looked refreshed after his ban and the captain, Gary Neville, restored, never flustered. It was a major response, and contrast, to United's inept display at Derby in the Carling Cup.
Sir Alex Ferguson's own half-time change was more successful. He switched his wingers carefully, posting Cristiano Ronaldo to tease his Portuguese pal Jose Bosingwa while the indefatigable Park Ji-Sung tracked Ashley Cole. Chelsea disappeared. Recent results have suggested Chelsea enjoy away-days with counter-attacking of their own, but it is based on quick passing when possession is regained and speedy support from the full-backs. Once that was lost, so was this game.
As for United's controversial corner, so long as the ball is played from within the quadrant and rolls its circumference, there is nothing wrong with it. I recall at Luton in 1991 employing the tactic with a left-footed crosser. Mark Pembridge. It is cunning, but is always disputed.
