Ecstasy to agony: Moyes trips on learning curve as his United side crash out of Europe

BAYERN MUNICH 3-1 MAN UNITED
(Bayern win 4-2 on aggregate)

For David Moyes another lesson learned, another indication that the margins are fine at the new level of the game at which he finds himself.

For much of this tense night in Bavaria, the Manchester United manager seemed to have got his lines right. After a season of difficult questions and unconvincing answers, Moyes appeared to have found a way to get by as his team frustrated and squeezed the life out of the best team in Europe.

For a few seconds, meanwhile, it seemed as though the ultimate glory beckoned. Patrice Evra's goal certainly sent a thunder clap around Europe.

In the end, though, Moyes was reminded once again that he and his team need somewhat more if they are to grow in to an outfit of genuine pedigree over the years to come.

When the two killer blows came they did so in quick succession. It was blunt and it was painful. Blanket defending, it appears, can only get you so far.

Ultimately United were undone by a rare failure to concentrate just after Evra's goal and because Wayne Rooney missed his kick with the goal at his mercy with the score at 2-1. Another United goal then - an away goal - may just have got them through.

Guardiola had perhaps sounded a little disrespectful the day before the game when he offered what appeared to be a rather withering assessment of English football.

'They are so defensive,' said the Bayern coach.

'They come to defend and wait for the counter attack.' As it transpired, he was wrong. United didn't sit with eight or nine. Often it was with all eleven. However, for 70 minutes at least, it almost worked.

It was peculiar to watch at times but it was entirely predictable and indeed understandable. If Moyes had learned one thing from the first leg, it was that Bayern are not at their most inventive right now, nor are they that comfortable when asked to sling crosses from wide positions in to a penalty area resembling Harrord's on the first day of the New Year's sales.

Bayern dominated possession in the opening period at Old Trafford, just as they did here. Once again those tedious passing stats were rolled out by those who think that passing a football around endlessly in triangles is the way to win football matches.

Once again last night, though, Bayern struggled to create chances and United actually finished the first period having had the best opportunity, wasted by Rooney early in the night.

Moyes was often criticised at Everton for a perceived lack of adventure. He was, so his detractors said, not as good at chasing big games as he was sending out teams designed to ask sit and hold. Here was Moyes' stage, an environment perfect for a manager who knows how to frustrate superior opposition.

It may not be the Manchester United way. This is not what he was hired for. But as a difficult and stressful season reaches its final stages, it represented the only chance on earth he had of somehow squeezing his team past the best football team in Europe.

Certainly United did not want for organisation. Moyes knows how to discipline a team and here his side squeezed narrow when Bayern had the ball - which was often - forcing Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery to cut inside in to a part of the field jam packed with bodies or send hopeful crosses in towards a centre forward who didn't look as though he would win a header all night.

Mario Mandzukic had 21 goals this season before last night but only one in his preceding seven games. Certainly he played like a centre forward low on confidence and ideas and Nemanja Vidic and Chris Smalling dealt comfortably with the threat - such as it was - for long periods.

When Mandzukic's goal did come, it had its roots in a rare moment of low United concentration. Having just scored the opening goal seconds earlier, Evra was caught on his heels a little as the Bayern number nine headed down and low in to the corner.

Both have had uncertain times during their short United careers. Smalling has suffered from too many injuries while Jones has been shunted about the field so many times that he must wonder sometimes just what his natural position is.

Both players justified Moyes' decision to select them with performances for the first hour at least as diligent as disciplined as anything any United player has offered this season. As Rio Ferdinand sat on the substitutes' bench even he would have acknowledged that the decision to leave him out was proving vindicated.

Smalling's job was often more straight forward than that of Jones. The former Blackburn player had to cope with the direct threat of Ribery and for the most part coped very well indeed.

It is only a couple of seasons ago that Manchester City came here and were made to look rather ordinary indeed by Bayern's two wingers. This time, United's organisation and strategy made the difference and Moyes - not to mention - his players deserve some credit for that.

Ultimately, they were overrun. Bayern - when they found something of their true selves - were just too good and United, running on tired legs and empty batteries, final succumbed.

For once, though, Moyes should be spared the inquisition.