He turned Johnsen and Neville before, in the 12th minute, he broke on the left and crossed to Antonio Conte. When the Champions' League draw was made, it was clear their destiny would be decided in Vienna, Istanbul and Old Trafford, not Turin A point here would have been a bonus. United must now regroup for the visit of Rapid Vienna on 25 September.Their day had begun brightly when their five most promising starlets, David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes, and the Neville brothers, Gary and Phil, each tied themselves to the club until the 21st century.Gary Pallister, as anticipated, was passed fit and David May was sacrificed for the greater mobility and European experience of Ronny Johnsen. The English double winners were comfortably second best to the European champions.

They rarely managed to maintain possession, they completely failed to bring a save from Angelo Peruzzi, and they were lucky not to concede more goals. As 1-0 defeats go, this was a thrashing. "We could have lost ny more," Alex Ferguson said. "If you lose possession at this level they will cut your throats We were naive but we can still qualify. It is a bonus the other teams in the group [Rapid Vienna and Fenerbahce] drawing."The decisive goal was scored after 32 minutes by Alen Boksic Ferguson tried to buy him in the summer. It will have given him no pleasure to have had his judgement confirmed.The Croatian striker troubled United all night and took his goal beautifully.