Champions At Last. La Lutta Continua…
After the despair of Euro defeat, the elation of winning the Premiership title.
Chelsea’s draw at Arsenal ensured the title returned to Old Trafford after an absence of four years.
Sir Alex’s ninth title in 15 years might not have the dramatic impact of the first in 1993, a glory which “got the monkey off United’s back” in Ron Atkinson’s words. But it should qualify as his most satisfactory.
“Some years ago, I had an obsession with winning in Europe but I think that’s been overtaken by winning the Premier League,” said Sir Alex. “We had a big job to catch up with them and I think the key to it was having a good start to the season and trying to stay with them. The Premiership is such a competitive league with the pressure on big clubs to do well, and that means it is a priority for us.To win it is a big achievement.”
“It’s fantastic for the club and the supporters. It’s been a fantastic season for them. I wish we’d at least got to the final in Athens, I must say.
“The really crucial part was the resilience of our players when we started getting all the injuries. At one point we had eight players injured. We don’t have as big as squad as Chelsea, so credit to the 13 or 14 players who dug it out every week for us and got the results, I really take my hat off to that bunch of lads. It was fantastic effort by them.”
United were written off when the season began. After a run of barren years and an insubstantial League Cup triumph last term, Sir Alex wore the look of a man haunted by the passage of time and the slippage of his powers. The manager spent the summer fending off carniverous critics and justifying his faith in a squad which seemed anaemic compared to that enjoyed by Jose Mourinho. If Chelsea were deemed ready to fire like “Arnie the Terminator,” then United were dismissed as having the all the power and allure of Mr Bean in a string vest.
All that will be forgotten now as United celebrate their first title since 2003 and prepare fittingly for a guard of honour at Stamford Bridge and an open-top bus ride through Trafford.
Blue-eyed observers may blame Chelsea’s mid-season injury woes for United’s coronation but Arsene Wenger’s reflection on United’s 16th title success deserves endorsement by all fair judges.
“The right team won the title,” he said. “The table doesn’t lie. United scored more goals and they deserved it. They have individuals who can make a difference and they were the most consistent this year, they showed no weaknesses
“Chelsea and Manchester United were both strong sides but there were a few turning points when United didn’t show any weakness and they had an offensive ability the others did not have. Manchester United have the offensive efficiency other teams don’t have. ”
United’s success is writ large but there are personal milestones too. Sir Alex is now incontestably the greatest manager this country has ever produced. Ryan Giggs becomes English football’s most decorated player. Paul Scholes has recovered his position as one of the giants of his generation. Nemanja Vidic improved massively as the season wore on. Cristiano Ronaldo, no matter what the critics might say, has put down a marker for greatness at just 22 years of age. Patrice Evra has demonstrated that courage ranks closest to talent in the list of a top footballer’s attributes. Rio Ferdinand has silenced his doubters. The list goes on.
So what now? Sir Alex, with two or three years left on his United watch, will not want his legacy to be tarnished by more barren years and will look to Rooney and Ronaldo to usher in a new period of domestic dominance.
To that end, the truth that great teams strengthen whilst strong should be adhered to scrupulously. The curtain may have to fall on the United careers of Louis Saha, Kieran Richardson, Wes Brown and Mikael Silvestre. Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes might have another season left in them but Ferguson should not allow Roy Keane-era sentimentality to blind him to their advancing years. Convincing replacements need to be found.
The humiliation of Milan should serve as a reminder that the “ones for the future” policy should be balanced by players bought for right now. The Premiership gong should not hide the deficiencies in United’s squad, which Sir Alex, Sir Bobby Charlton, Jose Mourinho and a host of critics have already identified and which were exposed ruthlessly by a remorseless Milan. United will be lucky to get through another season with 13 or 14 players available for most games.
The manager expects Chelsea to recruit in the close season. United should do the same. United fans may gloat all summer long but Chelsea will nurse a deep conviction to return to the winners’ podium and have the means to test the Glazer resolve to remain on top. The west Londoners should look to buy a centre half, a striker and City’s Micah Richards to support the major talents already in their ranks - Obi Mikel, Kalou, Joe Cole, Essien and Drogba. Add Terry, Lampard and Cech and Chelsea have good reason for great ambition.
The presence of Jose Mourinho remains key to Chelsea’s immediate prospects. Rumours suggest he may still be bound for Madrid, yet ironically, the manager’s position is strengthened by failure. The decision to pack the team with aged experience back-fired - no Premiership trophy or Champions league title. Mourinho’s distate for the ageing Shevchenko has been vindicated. The retention of Ballack might also be re-visited given the German’s apparently unilateral decision to undergo surgery as the season reached its disappointing climax for the Blues.
Arsenal too, will be stronger next season, after years of nurturing a young collective of enormous potential. It will be title or bust for the young Gunners, as Arsene Wenger knows. Fabregas, Denilson, Toure, Adebayor, Eboue and Diaby are gifted youngsters and should be better next year. By then Van Persie should be back to complement one or two experienced defenders.to be purchased in the close-season.
If Arsenal can cut out a tendency towards over-elaboration, can keep Thierry Henry fit for an entire campaign and demonstrate a readiness to roll up their sleeves for away matches against Premiership sprats, then Wenger’s boys should emerge as a major threat. That said, Arsenal’s playing staff could be decimated in the new year by the African Nations Cup.
Liverpool will have money to spend and can expect Raphael Benitez’s magic touch in Europe to soon transfer to the Premiership. If Benitez brings in better strikers than Crouch and Bellamy, plus players of the calibre of Seville’s Daniel Alves, then United and Chelsea will not be allowed to maintain the Premiership quite so much as a private dispute.
Congratulations and respect are United’s due for a magnificient achievement in winning the title. However, as Sir Alex will know, this season’s battle may be over but the struggle for sustained dominance continues.
