Mon 12 May 2008
Well, it’s old news by now, but for those of you who weren’t aware of my footballing persuasions, I’m a Manchester United fan through and through, and naturally enough I’m pretty thrilled that the Red Devils hung on to claim their tenth Premiership title in sixteen years and Sir Alex Ferguson’s 21st trophy with the club.
While the league didn’t have to go down to goal difference in the end - a margin of victory unseen since Arsenal’s epic final-minute victory against Liverpool in 1989 - and a surplus of two points only gives the due creedance to United’s indisputably stronger season, even a victory on goal difference could not have offered Chelsea fans a fair argument as to who truly deserved the title. United, for their blips, have beaten five teams at home scoring four goals along the way - as well as a 6-0 demolition of Newcastle - and twice scored four on the road, as well as an equally emphatic 5-1 drubbing of the Magpies at St James’. When truly on song, and with their solid starting eleven, United haven’t just beaten teams this season: they’ve demolished them.
Arguably United’s triumph is a vindication of the ambitious, exciting football as envisaged by Ruud Gullit and first practiced so marvellously by Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal in recent years. Chelsea’s habit of having the world’s best bankrolled squad churn out functional, phlegmatic 1-0 victories, while undoubtedly effective, has backfired, and teams showing more flair and bloodlust in preying for another goal have been rewarded for their hunger.
While obviously I’m delighted for everyone involved in such a win - they always say it’s much harder to retain a title than to win it, so a first back-to-back win since 2001 is wonderful - there were three people in particular who I was particularly thrilled for.
The first was the head honcho himself, Sir Alex Ferguson. I often find myself unable to contemplate a United without him, especially given Fergie took the helm at Old Trafford in the fortnight before I was born; and while we all know what Ferguson has achieved in his 21-year tenure with United, rarely has a league been won so closely but yet after such a mesmeric, intense and sustained campaign. When Ferguson first tore his teeth into the Premiership back in 1993, his side could afford to lose 6 games, draw 12, and still end a 42-game season with ten points to spare. The Wengers and Mourinhos of this world have raised the bar so well in the intervening years that this year he lost 5, drew 6, and only won the league by two. Gone are the days when a mid-season blip could be surmounted - the modern Premiership demands constant infallability and, in one’s sixties, to continually rise to the challenge and raise the bar is a feat that cannot be understated.
The second is the de facto club captain, Ryan Giggs. Just as I can’t remember a United without Ferguson, nor can I fathom a modern Manchester United without Giggsy wearing number 11 being the undeniable force that he is on the left. It was so fitting that on the day he equalled Sir Bobby Charlton’s record for club appearances that he secure such a simple yet clinical goal to ensure another title. Giggsy is now the most decorated footballer in English domestic history and his contribution to United’s continued success cannot be overstated. Obviously the end cannot be far away for Giggs but I can only hope that should the European final in Moscow next week be Giggsy’s last game in a United shirt, that it ends with the scoreline a player of his stature deserves.
The man has given us fans so many memories - not least of which the following in 1999:
Finally, inevitably, a word must be reserved for Cristiano Ronaldo. While there are those who still doubt Ronaldo’s true ability, particularly in the big games where the big players must shine that bit brighter, this year there has been so little to fault about the man from Madiera. To think that two years ago he was a national villain in England is almost absurd, and his public recovery, especially in light of his nationality, makes David Beckham 1998-2001 conversion from vilified to worshipped seem all the lesser.
Ronaldo is now to United what Thierry Henry, over a decade, became to Arsenal. His penalties are fierce, his freekicks eloquent, and his movement and goals are just sublime. The man can simply do no wrong. Compare the opening of this year-old video to the one below and you can see how the scrawny teenager mas matured into a lethally perfect, complete player. His predatory instinct is that of Inzaghi, but his swagger in possession is - dare I say that - that of a prime Eric Cantona. Cristiano Ronaldo simply has it all - pace, panache, pizazz… the complete package.
So that’s another league… Moscow and an anniversary Champions League awaits. There’ll be more from me on that, but for now: Glory Glory, Man United.
