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Comment: Nani Saved The Day For Portugal But Is It Too Late For Ferguson?

His international exploits make an Old Trafford future possible.

Nov 19, 2009 5:21:13 AM

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Nani - Manchester United (Getty Images)

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Left to do his talking on the pitch, Nani could have saved his Manchester United career after putting Portugal into the World Cup.

Asked to fill the boots of Cristiano Ronaldo, he stepped up in his country’s hour of need with the assists for both goals in the play-off with Bosnia-Herzegovina.

After the infamy created at the start of the international break with his revelations about Sir Alex Ferguson, he can now bask in the glory afforded to him by his adoring nation.

A contrasting reaction is likely to be offered when he reports back for duty at United’s Carrington training complex. Ferguson is famously abrupt when dealing with players who break confidence, but equally happy to deal out praise when a charge deserves it.

Angered by his left winger’s decision to publicly break rank, he would have been pleased when watching the highlight reels of the matches. Former assistant and current incumbent of the Portugal hot seat Carlos Queiroz will certainly be on hand to fight his savior’s corner.

Nani has wilted while replacing Ronaldo at Old Trafford, but this week has seen him excel in this role away from the Manchester pressure cooker. Free to exhibit his attacking exuberance, an end product absent from his Premier League appearances emerged.

Provider | Nani's cross was headed in by Alves

In the home leg, Portugal toiled against the obstinate Bosnian rearguard before Nani twisted past the full-back and delivered an inch perfect cross to the back post which was nodded home by roving center-back Bruno Alves.

After providing the inspiration for the advantage carried through to the Balkans, a composed pass slid across the penalty box allowed Raul Meireles to book the team’s tickets to next summer’s jamboree.

Proving his worth for the national side has not been a problem. Nani was a contender for the man of the match in both games this week and hit the opener in the 4-0 demolition of Malta which secured Portugal’s World Cup play-off berth.

This kind of response is alien to United supporters who have come to expect an infuriatingly infrequent supply from their enigmatic flyer. Stories of assists and goals will seem a work of fiction after a season in which Nani has failed to kick on from his stunning goal in the opening Community Shield clash with Chelsea.

On current form, his case to start against Everton on Saturday evening is a strong one. But, performing on the pitch and behaving off it go hand in hand for Ferguson.

Unlikely to forget his faux-pas in the press, Nani will have to prove his worth with the ball at his feet again rather than in column inches.

Matt Monaghan, Goal.com

How is England's lack of youth development hurting the national team? Find out in the November issue of Goal.com Magazine.

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