Early departure: Michael Owen is replaced by Dimitar Berbatov
Delight: Michael Carrick celebrates his winner for Manchester United
Sweet 16: Carrick slots home the winner
No let up: Ryan Giggs battles for the ball with Wolfsburg's Sascha Riether
Fall guy: Owen lasted just 20 minutes before he was forced off by injury
Ryan Giggs claimed his 150th Manchester United goal and left Sir Alex Ferguson almost speechless in the process at Old Trafford.
Referring to the way Giggs reached his milestone by hauling United level on route to a 2-1 win over Wolfsburg, Ferguson spluttered: 'Unbelievable. I don't know what else to say - there's not a lot you can add to that.'
United had just seen Wolfsburg dangerman Edin Dzeko score with a 56th-minute header when Giggs curled home a deflected free-kick before setting up Michael Carrick for a 78th-minute winner on his return to the starting line-up.
'The amazing thing about him is the youthfulness he continues to show. It's as if he is just starting out his career. He is enjoying hisfootball like a young man and the other great thing about him is you can praise him to the heavens and he won't be affected by a single word of it.'
'I didn't realise that was my 150th goal for United,' said Giggs. 'I'm proud of that but it was more important that we got back in the game so soon after they scored. We showed great character to bounce back like that.'
Ferguson saluted the way Carrick made the most of his opportunity but revealed that Michael Owen faces up to three weeks out after aggravating a groin strain.
'That goal will do Carrick no harm at all,' he said. 'Ever since he joined us he has tended to be a slow starter who only gets into his stride around October. We are seeing that now and he seemed to enjoy himself.
Manchester Utd 2 Wolfsburg 1
Wolfsburg took the lead early in the second half and had a number of other chances. Ferguson will recognise that and it may just make him a little uncomfortable.
United's capacity for recovery and the ability to stage remarkable comebacks is beyond doubt. It is not a fluke that it happens. It is to do with self-belief, mental strength and physical fitness. It is not, as some people may have it, just to do with minutes of added time.
From that point of view, they were indeed impressive against the Germans. Other teams may have started to panic and perhaps even folded when Edin Dzeko headed the Germans into the lead 11 minutes into the second half.
Not so United. They rallied, recovered and went on to win the game. It is what the very best teams manage to do.
A poor clearance from central defender Nemanja Vidic opened the door for Wolfsburg as early as the fifth minute and midfielder Christian Gentner really should have scored instead of shooting tamely at United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak.
Then, four minutes later, Marcel Schafer advanced down the left and was disappointed to see his fierce, low cross evade the green shirts of his team-mates flooding into the penalty area at the Stretford End.
If United were shaken by this nervy opening, they seemed at a loss as to how to put it right.
Patrice Evra was next to make a mistake as he gifted possession to Zvjezdan Misimovic and was no doubt relieved to see the Wolfsburg playmaker shoot wastefully wide from distance when he had team-mates alongside him in support.
With Michael Owen - handed a European start in front of England coach Fabio Capello - limping off early with a groin strain that will sideline him for three weeks, it was a difficult opening for United.
That it did not see them fall behind owed much to Wolfsburg's indifferent finishing. And although United did play their way into the game as the first half wore on, it was not a surprise when Wolfsburg took the lead.
The latest dribblings, goals and titles from Mr. Manchester United.
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Ryan Giggs scored so many great goals for Manchester United.
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Highlights from the champions league tie between United and Wolfsburg
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