United began Monday night’s game with 33 title winners’ medals sprinkled throughout their starting line-up and that know-how showed as the game developed into a tense, edgy battle of wills. When the clock ticks past the hour mark at this stage of the season and there is no sign of a breakthrough, less experienced teams began to panic and leave gaps at the back as they strain forward in search of a goal. Panic sets in. United? They just know how to grind away at the opposition and push and push until the goal comes.
2. Even the biggest names will put the team first
There is no place for egos when teams are going for a title and if a sa
crifice must be made for the greater good, then so be it. Against Blackburn, for example, Wayne Rooney was asked to play a deeper role and was deployed on the left flank by Sir Alex Ferguson in order to provide an outlet for United’s three-man midfield. In truth, the tactic seemed to blunt United’s cutting edge, but Rooney still stuck to the plan when some more high-maintenance individuals might have reacted differently.
3. Ferguson knows how and when to use his substitutes
Ferguson’s original formation left United short of attacking threat at Ewood Park, but with the points at stake, he replaced Javier Hernández and Phil Jones with Danny Welbeck and Ryan Giggs respectively. Shortly afterwards, Ashley Young replaced the tiring Paul Scholes and all three substitutes ultimately proved key to United’s precious victory. Giggs brought composure, Welbeck created space by stretching the Blackburn defence and Young made victory safe with his goal on 85 minutes.
4. They have match-winning quality throughout
The 2-0 scoreline was as much about the brilliance of goalkeeper David de Gea as the match-winning intervention of Antonio Valencia. But for De Gea’s double save from Marcus Olsson and Grant Hanley in first-half stoppage time, followed by his effort in keeping out Morten Gamst Pedersen’s second-half free-kick, United could have been trailing by two or three goals. De Gea’s saves gave Valencia the platform to open the scoring before the Ecuadorean winger teed up Young for United’s second.
5. They have the priceless ability to score late goals
No team turn a defeat into a draw or draw into a victory in the dying stages as often as United. From Steve Bruce’s headers against Sheffield Wednesday in 1993, to Federico Macheda’s injury-time winner against Aston Villa in 2009, United’s title charges have been dominated by late strikes. Giggs repeated the trick at Norwich in February, but while Valencia’s 80th-minute strike against Blackburn was early by United’s standards, its impact was just as crucial.
6. The number of home fixtures
Manchester United have four of their seven remaining fixtures at Old Trafford that alone might be enough to win the English Premier League but with Manchester City playing four of their seven remaining fixtures AWAY it plays firmly in the defending champions hands.
7. They have this insatiable desire to win trophies
Since inception only four teams (Manchester United 12, Arsenal 3, Chelsea 3 & Blackburn 1) have lifted the English Premier League trophy. You would think that in those 19 seasons twelve time champions Manchester United would be satisfied, but they not. Its like they say if you want something you work extra hard to get it. Well the more this team wins the harder they work to win again and again and again.
Granted this is by far not the best squad Sir Alex has put together but should they go on and win the league this year(probably will) I would firmly agree with some pundits that this might be Sir Alex Ferguson's best achievement in football yet.
Some paragraphs come from The Telegraph website.
Jade Christopher Bentley Adams (JCBA)
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