Ramblings of a Red Fan

Sir Alex Ferguson described Javier Hernandez as 'unbelievable' after Manchester United's 2-1 win over Marseille in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.

The Mexican scored goals in either half at Old Trafford to ensure his club will be in Friday's draw for the quarter-finals and continue the quest to repeat 1999's trophy-winning Treble.

It was far from a comfortable night for United against Didier Deschamps' Marseille, the defending French champions, but Hernandez'sbrace meant that Wes Brown's late own-goal did not prove fatal.

At first glance, the finishes from last July's signing from Guadalajara were simplicity personified, but Ferguson was eager to highlight the movement involved in the opening goal, which came from Wayne Rooney's assist.

Asked about the partnership between Rooney, who played in a deep role, and Hernandez, United's manager told Sky Sports 2: "It has developed very well.

"Where Wayne has been playing in the last couple of games, he is a real threat to teams because he has got such power and speed with the ball.

Edgy

"And, of course, Hernandez is unbelievable, his movement. Did you see his movement for the (opening) goal?

"He has made three different types of run - in, out, in, out - and the boy has just got goals in him."

Ferguson blamed United's edgy display on the enforced substitution of John O'Shea in the first half due to a hamstring injury, before the Irishman's replacement, Rafael, suffered a similar problem and had to be replaced by his brother, Fabio.

The current Premier League leaders and FA Cup semi-finalists had already sent on Antonio Valencia in place of Nani prior to Rafael's injury and so their manager's hands were tied.

Ferguson said: "It was nervy because we kept having players taken off with injuries and it shook the balance of the team in a big way.

"I thought we were quite comfortable, and then O'Shea is off, and then Da Silva (Rafael) is off. We had made a substitution, which was a killer because we could have brought (Darron) Gibson on to give us a bit more height.

"The problem tonight was always going to be height. Their (Marseille's) set-piece play, of course, was very good and it caused us a lot of problems."

Speed
Questioned why both O'Shea and Rafael suffered hamstring injuries, Ferguson said: "You have got to remember, if you look at the games we've had over the last couple of weeks - Chelsea and Liverpool away from home, Arsenal in an FA Cup tie, tonight - it is a big demand on players.

"The speed of the game today catches you out."

United were also without centre-back Nemanja Vidic due to a calf injury and Ferguson did not want to speculate about the Serb's chances of facing Bolton on Saturday, but Jonny Evans may be involved.

Regarding Vidic, Ferguson said: "We will have to wait and see. Jonny Evans started training this week so hopefully we will maybe have him for Saturday."

United have joined Tottenham, Barcelona, Shakhtar Donetsk, Inter Milan and Schalke in the quarter-finals, while Chelsea and Copenhagen, and Real Madrid and Lyon play their respective last-16 second legs on Wednesday.

Asked who he would like in the last eight, Ferguson said: "You just take what you get.

"We go through this over the years and you say, 'I hope we get this or I hope we get that'. You never get what you want."

From SkySports