Manchester: Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson praised a captain's performance from Wayne Rooney after the 20-year-old led them to a 3-0 Champions League win over FC Copenhagen on Tuesday.
Rooney was given the captaincy just 15 minutes before kick-off at Old Trafford after both Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand belatedly pulled out of the Group F game.
In the absence of the injured Gary Neville, Giggs was due to lead United out until he fell ill. Ferdinand, a likely deputy, then injured his neck during the warm-up.
With goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar still out preparing on the pitch, Ferguson looked round the dressing room to find a replacement.
He said later that Rooney was the perfect choice. "With Edwin van der Sar's experience and personality, perhaps I should have used that," Ferguson said. "But I was looking for an outfield player and I am always looking for someone who would respond to it.
"Paul Scholes does not want to be captain again and therefore it was an easy choice to give it to somebody who would get a lift out of it."
Pleased with another fine display by the England striker, after a start to the season hit by suspension and loss of form, Ferguson said: "He was fantastic. His form is back, as we expected."
Rooney Pleased
Rooney said: "I was pleased to get the armband, but it was not the main issue of the night. We are really pleased we got three goals and three points and it was an important win. My form is getting better. I think I am more or less back to my best."
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Rooney did not score but created several chances for others as United secured a third consecutive victory that left them within touching distance of the knockout round.
Celtic are second in the group on six points after beating Benfica 3-0 on Tuesday.
Scholes opened the scoring after 39 minutes and a fortuitous second goal from John O'Shea in the opening moments of the second-half put the game beyond Copenhagen.
Kieran Richardson then scored a third which means United are set to avoid a repeat of last season's embarrassing exit in the group stages.
Ferguson said: "My only concern was that with the chances we had in the first half we had not killed them off. Technically they were very good and they are under-rated for where they are in the group. The second goal was welcome for us.
"We know all about last year and we are not getting a repeat. That speaks highly of the team and their motivation. The expression of their football is really good."
Copenhagen coach Stale Solbakken was pleased with how his side performed, saying: "We lost to the better team but it gave us great hope for the future.
"We played really well in the first half. I was really pleased at how we created chances. It is only our third game in the Champions League and we are learning every game. Many of our players showed that they can play at this level.
"It gives us more hope for the home game (against United) and the three remaining games."
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