Manchester United v Schalke: player ratings
Rory Smith's verdict on the players' performance at Old Trafford.
Get stuck in: Paul Scholes goes toe to toe with FC Schalke's Alexander Baumjohan Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By Rory Smith 9:54PM BST 04 May 2011
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Manchester United
Edwin van der Sar 6/10
Had little chance, given the ferocity with which Jurado struck the ball, with Schalke's goal, but otherwise the Dutchman was as calm and assured as ever.
Rafael 6
Well marshalled for much of the evening by Julian Draxler, but the Brazilian offers a consistent outlet going forward and is growing in defensive stature.
Chris Smalling 5
It was his mistake that led to Jurado's goal, a lapse in concentration which can be attributed to his comparative lack of experience at this level.
Jonny Evans 6
Could do little to prevent his inadvertent role in Jurado's goal and was otherwise largely untroubled by the German side's attack.
John O'Shea 6
Captain for the evening, but rarely can the position have seemed more ceremonial. Did nothing wrong, but hardly a noticeable presence after leading his side out for kick-off.
Paul Scholes 6
Employed in the deep-lying playmaker role best typified by AC Milan's Andrea Pirlo, Scholes was tasked with dictating tempo but failed to impose himself on the game.
Antonio Valencia 8
The more persistent threat from United's flanks, the Ecuadorean settled the hosts' few nerves with his early strike, just his second of an injury-ravaged season.
Anderson 7
Fulfilled his obligation to burst forward with typical energy and verve, and saw his persistence rewarded with the goal which ended Schalke's hopes.
Darron Gibson 8
Better on the pitch than he is on Twitter. The Irishman may be a bite noir for United's fans, but while his goal was fortuitous, his distribution was impressive here.
Nani 7
Always looks dangerous but how often the Portuguese's self-indulgence means he flatters to deceive is evidenced by his presence in United's semi-final stiffs.
Dimitar Berbatov 6
Started brightly enough, laconically troubling Schalke in the inside left channel, but faded. Not a performance to demand a place at Wembley.
Substitutes: Patrice Evra replaced Rafael after 60 minutes to shore up the defence before Darren Fletcher made is return in place of Scholes after 73.
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Schalke
Manuel Neuer 5/10
If last week's praise was a little inflated, he should not be overly pilloried for misjudging the flight of Gibson's shot. Still produced one brilliant save from Anderson.
Atsuto Uchida 4
At fault for United's opener, gifting the ball to the hosts inside his own half, and a weak point throughout the tie. Poor positionally and on the turn.
Benedikt Howedes 6
The brightest defensive prospect in Germany lent a degree more credibility to Schalke's back line, though they still failed to look imposing.
Christoph Metzelder 6
Again, solid enough, but there are times when his positional sense fails to disguise a lack of pace which a quicker forward than Berbatov would have exploited mercilessly.
Sergio Escudero 6
Far better going forward than travelling back, the Spaniard endured a difficult evening at the hands of the lively Valencia.
Jose Manuel Jurado 7
Neuer aside, the only Schalke player to emerge with credit from the two ties. His goal was fearsomely struck and his general play neatly constructive.
Kyriakos Papadopoulos 5
Feted as Schalke's emerging firefighter, the Greek teenager has been something of a wet blanket. Failed to cope with Anderson's and Gibson's raids.
Jefferson Farfan 6
His power and pace make the Peruvian a threat, but his performances at home and away have lacked the end product he managed against Inter and Valencia.
Alexander Baumjohann 5
Rescued from the club's reserves by Ralf Rangnick, the 24-year-old looked out of his depth here. Replaced by the muscular, but ineffective, Edu at half-time.
Julian Draxler 6
Schalke's great youthful hope, the teenager did not get in the game sufficiently to showcase his abilities. He will be confident of returning to similar stages.
Raul 5
Asked to perform a role which he would have been ill-suited to even in his prime, the tournament's leading scorer will not have wished to bow out with such a whimper.
Substitutes: Edu replaced Baumjohann at half time but lacks sufficient quality at this level, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar came on for Howedes after 70 minutes. Joel Matip replaced Farfan on 75.
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