Manchester United have equalled the Champions League record for the highest amount of unbeaten away games. The record had been held by Ajax but Luis Valencia’s single goal against CSKA Moscow last night meant that United drew level with the historic Dutch side.

It was an unconvincing United display on a bitterly cold evening in Moscow. However, the point is that United managed to scramble out a win and it is three more important points as they continue their quest to reach the later rounds of the competition.

United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, said: “The issues of the surface were not a problem. As I said before the game, good footballers can play on that quite easily. I’m very pleased with the performance. We have a home game against CSKA next, so we have the opportunity to ensure we go through to the next stage. I think we should be proud [of equalling Ajax’s record].”

“There is a way of playing with maturity and you saw that tonight. In the first half I think we played with a lot of patience, which is necessary when you are playing away from home. Experience in these sort of situations is always vital.”

“In the second half we increased the tempo of the game and got more penetration. We created some good opportunities and if we have to wait to the 86th minute, so be it. We had to have the patience to win, and we did that.”

“Valencia has been a plus point for the last few weeks. He is emerging very well, settling into the club and his confidence is getting stronger. He has tremendous assets for a wide player but the assets he didn’t show at Wigan were his goals, where he would maybe get three or four a season.”

United will probably be buoyed by the the win and will now be looking forward to an intense trip to Liverpool this weekend. The Premier League match is said to be the most intense in the entire country and one of the fiercest in Europe.

It could be the prime time for United to go to Liverpool and chalk up another away win but the point of last night’s performance is that the side still know how to grind out a win when they are not playing well.

Fergie seems hungrier than ever and if he can get his team to keep winning at all costs that it could be a silver season for United.