Time For United To Deliver
Victory, goals, a good performance and a demonstration that the league title will not be surrendered without a fight. These are the requirements set before United tomorrow in the match against Spurs.
The manager offered the prospect of improvement when reassuring fans that his side’s title defence is not over.
“It is ridiculous to suggest we are out of the title race already because, let’s face it, we are only three games into the season,” Ferguson said. “I have certainly not lost faith in what we can do and we will change things around.
“The players have not enjoyed this nightmare. They know our rivals must be rubbing their hands and they are determined to do something about it.”
United are now second from bottom in the table and will know that the main rivals for the title have moved further ahead.
Liverpool had more than enough class to ease past Sunderland and looked nothing like the disjointed outfit of yesteryear. Rafa Benitez has assembled a huge squad of some power. Any rotation of Liverpool’s best 11, is no longer sufficient to provoke the outbreak of fever and headaches on Merseyside. If Liverpool can remain in contention and do not suffer key injuries to the likes of Gerrard, Agger or Torres, they will be formidable opponents to United’s quest to retain the title.
City’s limited game and Micah Richards impetuosity were found out today at Arsenal. The Gunners are the model which United look set to follow. The passing and the movement at the Emirates was mostly good but with Van Persie and Hleb not at their best and Adebayor coming back after injury, the Wenger boys lacked punch up front against an obdurate City team. But Arsenal won, as they did against Fulham, when the odds seemed against them. For all the jaw wars following the roughhouse Blackburn match, Wenger must have been happy with the point his side took home.
Chelsea moved past Portsmouth with a goal from Lampard. Mourinho hopes that the signing of the Barcelona right back Juliano Belletti, will solve his team’s problem position and give him the squad to retake the title. Losing the Premiership has been a jolt to the senses and there is little talk from Stamford Bridge now about the importance of winning the European Cup. Indeed, there is hardly any talk at all from Mourinho, just concentration. After a fortunate escape at Anfield last week, Chelsea are top of the league having recorded three decent wins.
And so to United. Mirror hack Oliver Holt claims Ferguson’s side is built this season for the Champions League. Sir Alex has surrounded himself with technically gifted players whom he expects to deliver more than frustration in the semi-final, should United earn the right to contest such a game.
But it is the league where United will be tested and prepared for the glorious European nights ahead. City last week. Reading and Portsmouth before that. Each match presented exactly the sort of stubborn and taxing challenge an ambitious team needs to overcome.
Indeed, United’s run to the Champions league semi-final last season was surely enhanced by the confidence bred by victory after victory on the domestic front. A stuttering league campaign now could have the opposite result, provoking raised tensions whenever United hit the European trail.
Remember too, that United are not an awe-inspiring sight for the continent’s better sides. Yes, they are worthy of respect, as befits any team boasting the skills of Rooney, Ronaldo and Tevez. But United’s poor record on the road is such that the legends of Spain and Italy will always fancy their chances against the English champions.
It must be hoped that the resolution, the vibrancy and the swagger of last season will return against Spurs, irrespective of injuries and suspensions. As the manager believes, United can still win the league. Equally, Sir Alex was right too, when he said after the City defeat that his team’s poor start made the process an “uphill fight.”
Any reproaches of United must be made sotto voce because the team did everything but score against Reading and City. Yet the excuses must end tomorrow against Spurs. United must step up and deliver.
