Match-winner Owen Delighted

Michael Owen says his derby winner will be right up there with the most memorable moments of his career, after sealing a hugely absorbing 4-3 victory in the sixth minute of stoppage time at Old Trafford.

United’s no.7 came off the bench with the specific instruction to nab a winning strike, and he did that in the most dramatic fashion.

“It’s one of those few moments in my career that I’ll look back on and see it as one of the highlights,” he told MUTV. “To score in a derby is great, but for it to be as dramatic as that, you’d have to see it to believe it. It was such an entertaining game and it must be one of the best televised games of all time.”

Owen’s clinical finish will enter folklore in Manchester after one of the most entertaining derbies this city has ever seen. Owen, naturally, takes it in his stride. “Some games you get four chances and don’t score and you get criticised,” he added. “Today I got one and scored. That’s the hard thing as a striker, you have to ride all the emotions.”

Being an impact substitute is a new sensation for Owen, but he’s already proved he’s good at it. “In the first couple of minutes you’re finding your feet, getting your eye and ball coordination going. But you’re playing at the highest level and you have to be right up to speed straightaway.

“You’ve been sitting down on your backside for an hour, so it takes a few minutes to get into the game. But I got sent on for a reason, and that was to hopefully nick a goal. Thankfully it worked for me today.”

Owen admitted he was nervous coming off the bench having soaked up all the atmosphere and tension whilst sat on the sidelines – although he certainly didn’t show his nerves when he got the ball inside the area from Ryan Giggs’ pass.

“It was a brilliant game. I don’t know how the manager and the coaching staff do it. It must be so nerve-racking every week. Whenever I start games I’m never nervous, but when you’re sat on the bench that tension rubs off so you go onto the pitch and you’re a little bit nervous. You’ve been kicking every ball and hearing the crowd throughout the game.

“As soon as they scored I heard the announcement which said there were four minutes, so immediately I thought that we might get a couple of chances. When they score, you think that’s it it’s probably going to be a draw, but you never stop believing that you can do it.”