Boss pleased with new-boys
Three young United players received the praise of their manager on Wednesday night after helping the Reds to earn a point against a stronger Chelsea side.
Chris Eagles was rewarded with his first Premiership start after scoring on his debut as a sub at Everton. And the winger was joined in Sir Alex Ferguson's much changed line-up by two players making their maiden league appearances - Chinese striker Dong Fangzhuo and reserve team captain Kieran Lee.
"The young players making their debuts, Dong and Kieran Lee, acquitted themselves well," said Sir Alex.
"I thought Kieran Lee did fantastically well. He's not a well-built lad and he really depends on his reading of the game. But he's an excellent reader of the game and an excellent footballer.
"Chris Eagles was one of our best players tonight. He provided a great deal of variety in his match, his work-rate was terrific.
"I think Chris has shown he's got the temperament to play. He does work very hard at his game. He's one of the lads who goes out and practises in the afternoons.
"You get the rewards of that, and there are great dividends. The dividend for Chris Eagles tonight is that I wouldn't be afraid to play him any time."
Eagles could even force his way into Sir Alex's FA Cup final plans - the boss told MUTV he only has "eight or nine players" set in his mind for the rematch with Chelsea on 19 May.
Wednesday's tussle with Chelsea was barely a dress rehearsal for Wembley, given the personnel on duty. But Sir Alex insists there was still plenty to take from a game that occasionally became a battle, despite there being no prize at stake.
"When people saw our team, they maybe thought, "They're not interested." But we were interested okay because this club has to win all its games," said the United boss.
"We had a good go at it. Some of the possession was very good and our concentration at the back was superb.
"It was very competitive. In the first half, I think the boy Obi (Mikel) was lucky to be on the pitch, I think that was a bad tackle (on Eagles). At times it became a bit feisty and hard to handle for the referee. But that just shows you the level of competition between the teams."