Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood will look for new blood to take his side forward after they were outclassed by Manchester United in a day of nostalgia at Pittodrie on Saturday.

Sir Alex Ferguson brought a strong United side up to Scotland for the testimonial game in honour of the Aberdeen team which won the European Cup Winners' Cup 25 years ago against Real Madrid in Gothenburg, when Ferguson was Dons manager.

The game was a reminder of how far the Pittodrie club have to go to get back to those former glories, the visitors winning at a canter thanks to a first-half penalty converted by Michael Carrick after Wayne Rooney had been felled by Dons keeper Jamie Langfield, and a Rooney header after the break.

Calderwood took the opportunity to give new signings Mark Kerr, Gary McDonald, keeper Bertrand Bossu and Sam Stewart their first taste of action against the Champions League winners although the latter came on too late to make much of an impact.

Kerr, signed from Dundee United, and former Kilmarnock midfielder McDonald, who came on a free transfer from Oldham, started together for the first time in the centre of midfield.

Frenchman Bossu took over from Langfield at half-time and at 6ft 7in, he cut a rather imposing figure in the Aberdeen goal.

Calderwood, who lavished praise on the United players, especially veterans Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs for their "fabulous attitude", tried to take some positives from the performances of his new boys.

"Mark has only been here a week," Calderwood said. "He is a fit lad normally but it has been hard for him.

"But once Gary and him get together and play a few more games I'm sure they will progress and go forward.

"Bertrand made a couple of great saves in the second half although I think the last one was showboating to be honest.

"He has done really well for us and if you are that height it helps with crosses -if you come for them.

"But we've only been back two weeks and it was very difficult because United were so good on the ball."

"I thought Jeffrey de Visscher did well for us wide as did Lee Miller against two very good centre halves," Calderwood added.

"Jamie Smith was back so that was good and all in all, it was a fantastic experience, especially for the young lads who could see the quality of United."

Ferguson admitted he had enjoyed his return to Pittodrie, where he enjoyed so much success in the 1980s before he moved to Old Trafford.

The United boss could not get away from the furore surrounding FIFA President Sepp Blatter who last week compared United's refusal to sell £80million-rated striker Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid with "modern slavery".

The Old Trafford boss refused to comment on the topic of Blatter but after insisting the Old Trafford club were in no rush to replace former number two Carlos Queiroz who took over as the new head coach of Portugal, he turned his attention to his former club.

"Aberdeen have a lot of young players and players they have produced themselves which is nice to see," he said.

"They played some nice football.

"They weren't afraid to play and the big centre forward (Miller) was a bit of a handful in the first half, he gave Nemanja Vidic a hard time which is not easy."

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