Pushing The Euro Boulder Up Treacle Mountain …
When United last took the field in a European match, it was billed as a defining moment in Sir Alex Ferguson’s managerial career.
By the end of the match that December evening at the Estadio da Luz stadium in Portugal, United were humbled, beaten by a competent but ordinary Benfica side.
Sir Alex awoke the next morning to read his professional obituary. The tabloids and broadsheets joined hands to bury the United boss. The Guardian’s report was a typical example of the unequivocal judgements delivered by the nation’s sports writers.
‘There will be a reckoning that takes place in private and it is likely to see Sir Alex Ferguson’s tenure at Manchester United terminated at the close of the season,’ the Guardian advised. ‘The murmuring of rich men over the current balance sheet and the future prospects can be deadly, but no ruthlessness by the Glazer family will cause such heartache as failure on a football field does.
‘This night at the home of Benfica will be the image of Ferguson’s end. United hurled themselves on in a quest for an equaliser that never came. For the first time in 10 seasons, United will not feature in the Champions League knockout phase and, having come bottom of Group D, there is not even an escape route to the Uefa Cup.’
Sir Alex survived of course, summoning all of his survival skills to reinvigorate his United team and steer it to a trophy and runners-up spot in the Premiership.
Nine months on, the scale of Sir Alex’s task this season is simple enough. No repeats! Sir Alex must send out a United team capable of erasing the bitter memories of last year, when listless performances and embarrassing defeats made the combined challenge of Benfica, Lille and Villareal equivalent to pushing a gigantic boulder up a treacle covered mountain.
This time, United should approach the start of the European season with Herculean strength of will founded on irreproachable league form and an impressive goal tally. The Champions League is arguably more open this year. Chelsea boss José Mourinho, a winner just two years ago with Porto, rates United as one of 10 teams capable of winning the tournament. Indeed, the recent success of Mourinho’s Portuguese side and Liverpool is proof that well-organised teams which ride their luck can go far.
Yet many of the misgivings which accompanied United into the start of the Premiership campaign will be magnified under the European spotlight. The manner in which Louis Saha wasted two excellent chances against Spurs, is a warning of the risks of having just two fully fit strikers and a painful reminder that Ruud Van Nistelrooy, the scorer of 38 European goals in five seasons, now plays in Spain. The gradual disappearance of United’s midfield against the robust Londoners suggests Sir Alex needs a ball-winner with greater assurance than John O’Shea. The two gilt-edged chances that Mido and Defoe missed last Saturday may not elude the hitmen who await United in the hoped-for later stages of the competition.
Given the disastrous outcome of last season’s European adventure, Sir Alex’s bullish enthusiasm on the eve of the match against Celtic is a welcome break from the mealy-mouthed pronouncements and circumspection of standard manager-speak.
‘It will be different this year I can assure you,’ Sir Alex has said. ‘We were really disappointed last year. This year I think we will be OK. We have the experience and quality to get through.
‘If someone had told me this time last year we would finish bottom of our group, I would never have believed them. I want us to rely on our ability and the experience we have in European games, particularly at Old Trafford.’
Sir Alex has now staked out the ground on which he will be judged. United will progress only if Old Trafford becomes a fortress once again and the international players that make up United’s first team show their pedigree on the road.
This United team does not yet bear comparison with the powerful unit of 1999 but Sir Alex’s knowledge, confidence and sheer determination should inspire. Getting through the group stages is a minimum requirement. Then the tournament will really begin.
Onwards to Athens. AU
© Copyright: Absolutely United 2006
