By David Hobbs
September 29 2005

Right-back Phil Bardsley has expressed his sheer delighted at starting for Manchester United in a successful European Champions League game at Old Trafford.

Under pressure, United picked themselves up against Benfica to eventually win 2-1 courtesy of Ryan Giggs' first-half free-kick and Ruud van Nistelrooy's last-gasp goal.

20-year-old Bardsley, an unknown to some Red Devils fans, produced an industrious performance that would have made Gary Neville proud, who's made the right-back berth his own for club and country.

"I was delighted to get a run-out," he said. "It's a fantastic competition and you gain great experience from playing alongside a player like Rio.

"All the older lads set a great example for the younger players and I thought myself and Kieran Richardson adapted well. I'm just pleased that we were able to get a great result because we needed it.

"Saturday's result was disappointing but the lads bounced back and hopefully we can maintain that against Fulham this weekend."

David Hobbs - Webmaster
[david@manutdweb.com]