Sir Alex Ferguson claimed Real Madrid found Danny Welbeck too hot to handle in the Bernabéu on Wednesday night.
The 22-year-old had found the net just once for United this season before he got the better of Sergio Ramos to power home a header that set United up for an encouraging 1-1 draw.
It was the high point of an excellent all-round display from Welbeck, who seemed to have fallen so far down the pecking order at United he was linked with a loan move to Reading before the transfer window opened.
Ferguson said: "He was marvellous. It is a pity he got cramp at the end of game, but he worked so hard.
"It was only his second goal of season. We expected more, but he is young. They found it difficult to handle him."
It was also a night to remember for United's under-fire goalkeeper David de Gea, with Gary Neville among those to criticise the Spain Olympic keeper for Tottenham's equaliser in last month's draw at White Hart Lane.
"De Gea was excellent," Ferguson said. "He made three or four top saves. He has been improving all season.
"There was one save in the first half which he touched onto the post [from Fábio Coentrão] which was superb.
"I am pleased for him. He is an Atlético boy playing here in Madrid, but he has done well."
Ferguson revealed he left out Nemanja Vidic as a direct consequence of United's Premier League encounter with Everton being shifted to last Sunday.
"If we had played on the Saturday, the extra day would have suited me, but he plays one game every eight or nine days and still has to manage his comeback from injury," said Ferguson. "Rio is exactly the same, and the type of game on Sunday suited Vidic more."
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