It would be easy to forget that there is a domestic cup final today, with the English press concentrating much of their attention on the fall out from the Chelsea capitulation and the Bridge-Terry no-handshake incident.

But we'll steer clear of that and there IS some focus on the Carling Cup final between Manchester United and Aston Villa, with Joe Berstein at the Mail examining how the Wembley showpiece provides another opportunity for Wayne Rooney to show that he is on the path to greatness.

"For the Manchester United players who gathered just after 3pm at Wilmslow station yesterday to begin the journey that will culminate underneath the arch at Wembley Stadium this afternoon, there is no chance of disrespecting the Carling Cup.

This is the tournament that saw the birth of Sir Alex Ferguson's latest and arguably greatest team, the bold decision to drop Ruud van Nistelrooy for the 2006 Carling Cup final against Wigan rewarded with a 4-0 victory that included two goals from Wayne Rooney to earn the England striker his first piece of silverware as a player.

The triumph sparked an unprecedented trophy haul that has so far yielded three consecutive Premier League titles and consecutive appearances in the Champions League final. But just as the Carling Cup final launched a new era at Old Trafford, defeat against Aston Villa this afternoon could signal the beginning of the end. Attention will be focused as closely off the pitch, where up to 20,000 United fans will wear the green and gold that demonstrates opposition to the club's American owners."

Sticking with Mr Rooney and Paul Wilson at the Guardian believes that the Manchester United striker could be the key to maintaining Fabio Capello's sanity at a time when things have been going worong for the England boss.

"Fabio Capello does not want to say too much more about John Terry or Wayne Bridge, and who can blame him? Ahead of his last England friendly before he settles down to select a World Cup squad, the Italian would much rather talk about Wayne Rooney, as most of his counterparts in international football management are doing.

"I see the other managers quite a lot, at meetings and conferences," Capello explains. "Always they come to me and say the same thing – 'You have one fantastic player'. Vicente del Bosque, Giovanni Trapattoni, they ask me always about Rooney."

And how does Capello respond? Like a drowning man grabbing a lifeline, or a hungry prisoner discovering rare and refreshing fruit is on the menu for a change. When all your adopted country seems to be interested in is a tawdry succession of off-field scandals it is all the more pleasant to be asked to consider a footballer who is winning global admiration for playing football."