Manchester United 4 Schalke 1 (agg 6-1): Gibson silences critics to reward Ferguson

Gather round: Anderson is congratulated after scoring his first goal for United

He made eight changes to the side that lost at Arsenal last weekend, and nine to the one that so impressed in Gelsenkirchen last week, but still came up with a team that never gave this bizarrely average Schalke side a chance. After a second-leg performance every bit as bad as their first, it has become one of football’s great mysteries how they managed to progress this far — not to mention how Inter Milan allowed them to score seven goals in the previous round.

But take nothing away from United. Ferguson wanted them to secure their passage to yet another Champions League final with the minimum of fuss.

Off and running: Antonio Valencia (left) Manuel Neuer to open the scoring for United

Ferguson must have been particularly pleased with the contribution of Darron Gibson, who emerged as the unlikeliest of semi-final heroes. Last week the Irishman had been forced to withdraw from Twitter hours after joining the social network, such was the abuse he received from so-called United fans.

After this, those tormentors owe him a grovelling apology. He created the first goal in the 26th minute with a quite exquisite pass before scoring the second five minutes later, humiliating the ‘world’s best goalkeeper’ in the process.

Praise: Valencia (centre) celebrates scoring United's first goal against Schalke

This probably wasn’t the second part of Manuel Neuer’s audition for a place at United. It seems he is almost certainly heading to Bayern Munich this summer. But the manner in which he allowed Gibson’s shot to take a sharp diversion off his gloves and cross the line via his left-hand post would have  convinced Ferguson he might not be such a loss after all. Neuer also conceded four in Munich at the weekend.

A goal from Jose Manuel Jurado still left Schalke three goals adrift and Anderson put the result beyond any doubt when he scored in the 72nd and 76th minutes.

Doubling up: Gibson (centre) fires the ball home to put United 2-0 in front

While Ferguson should take enormous pride in guiding his side to their third Champions League final in four seasons, it is not an achievement he will reflect on for long

Instead, his focus has to shift to the second, rather more challenging, part of this week — to Chelsea on Sunday, and the task of protecting the three-point advantage they will take into a title race suddenly reignited by Sunday’s defeat at the Emirates.

A day at the races had been planned for Thursday. But, no. Ferguson has apparently cancelled that, instead asking his players — even those sat among the spectators last night — to rest up and make sure fatigue is not an issue come the weekend.

Chelsea took advantage of such a situation last season, coming here and beating a United side drained by a Champions League meeting with Bayern Munich in the week.

There should be no such concerns this time. Where the Bayern game was physically and mentally exhausting, this was ridiculously easy.  It helped, of course, that Ferguson was still able to call on so much quality despite all the changes. His team boasted the leading scorer in the Barclays Premier League in Dimitar Berbatov as well as players of the calibre of Paul Scholes, Nani, Valencia and Anderson.

Too little, too late: Jose Manuel Jurado pulls a goal back for Schalke

United dominated from the start. Nani was quick to pose a threat and Berbatov went close to playing in Valencia for what would have been the easiest of finishes. The Bulgarian did brilliantly to escape the clutches of two Schalke defenders, only to direct his pass into the hands of Neuer.

Schalke seemed no more capable of demonstrating how they managed to conquer Inter Milan than they had eight days earlier. They were strangely subdued and looked not the least bit encouraged by the fact that Ferguson had sent out his second team.

Making a scene: Schalke fans set off flares during their side's match against Manchester United

Valencia’s goal made United’s position all the more comfortable, and what a super goal it was. The move was sparked by Schalke’s failure to retain possession in midfield and a superb pass from Gibson invited Valencia to score. He took his chance beautifully, driving a right-foot shot under the advancing Neuer.

With the arrival of Gibson’s goal five minutes later came a sense of frustration among the travelling supporters and there was a brief clash between fans and stewards before the police helped defuse the situation.

Bullet: Anderson lashes home United's third goal as Schalke crumble at Old Trafford

Four minutes later, Jurado seized on United’s failure to clear a  teasing cross by squeezing a shot between Edwin van der Sar and his right-hand post. That nevertheless left the aggregate score at 4-1, and from the re-start it very nearly became 5-1 when Valencia was denied by a goal-line clearance.

Berbatov then directed a header just over the bar. But Schalke never looked like fighting their way back into this tie and Anderson put a place in the final firmly beyond their reach when he struck twice in four minutes. While the first was more opportunistic, a close-range effort scored on the turn, the  Brazilian’s second was the product of a delightful move. It was a super ball from Valencia and a perfectly weighted delivery from out-wide from Berbatov that allowed  Anderson to score with ease.

Watching from the stands, Pep Guardiola must have been impressed. It is a wonderful Barcelona team he commands but this was some performance given the significance of the match and the number of first-team players rested.

But like Ferguson, their minds will now only be stopping Chelsea denying them the chance to secure a Double that might yet be considered Ferguson’s finest hour.

Perhaps that was another reason Ferguson went out on the pitch. To inspire both the players and the supporters. To remind everyone what an important week this is.

Close call: Manuel Neuer punches clear under pressure from United's Nani