Manchester United have won the Premier League and now they’re going for the FA Cup, but Liverpool are a tough proposition even for United’s unique blend of youthful skill and wily experience
SOCCER: David Lacey
HISTORY beckons Manchester United. Now only Liverpool stand between Alex Ferguson’s team and a unique second double, the first of which they achieved only two years ago.
After a fitful first half at the Riverside Stadium on Sunday, Old Trafford’s third Premiership title in four seasons was clinched with something to spare. They meet Liverpool in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday.
By winning the Premiership title for the third time in four seasons Manchester United have established a pattern of power similar to that achieved by Liverpool in the old English First Division from 1975 onwards. In doing so, moreover, Old Trafford has shown the strength of continuity which lay at the heart of Anfield’s 15-year domination of the championship.
Alex Ferguson is halfway towards equalling Bob Paisley’s six titles with Liverpool. He is also on the verge of another unique achievement: he is already the first manager to complete league and cup doubles north and south of the border — first with Aberdeen, then with United; his will be the first English club to pull off the double twice should United beat Liverpool in Saturday’s FA Cup final.
This is by no means a foregone conclusion, even though United have not lost to Liverpool in the FA Cup since 1921. Yet, if another double does slip away, as doubles often do, winning the title remains the true mark of Ferguson’s quality as a manager as well as of the calibre of a team which in the space of a season has undergone a remarkable transformation of manpower and mood while the method has remained largely unchanged.
More than ever United are masters of the counter-attack, which will be an important factor in next season’s Champions’ League, where the counter-punch is essential in company not usually susceptible to the sucker punch. Their speed in switching from defence to attack can take away the breath of defenders but, without cool thoughts in heads cooler than they used to be, the effect would be less dramatic.
Of course Eric Cantona has had everything to do with United’s latest triumph, just as he influenced the title deeds of 1993 and 1994. If his fall from grace following the kung-fu affair in January last year probably cost Old Trafford a championship hat-trick, so his return as a grey eminence has ensured their return to Europe’s centre stage, this time with a hand unrestricted by Uefa rules on foreign bodies.
It would be wrong, however, to dwell entirely on the contribution of Cantona, matchless though that has been. Until October 1 Cantona was serving the eight-month ban imposed by the FA after his assault on a Crystal Palace fan. Up to and beyond that point Ryan Giggs was United’s inspiration.
In fact the restoration of Giggs to form and fitness has been as crucial as the rehabilitation of Cantona. Giggs was the icon leading the crop of emerging talents — Nicky Butt, the Nevilles, Paul Scholes and David Beckham — through the higher education of the Premiership.
It is only just over 18 months since Port Vale supporters were complaining about Ferguson fielding a weakened team for a Coca-Cola Cup tie at Burslem. Yet the United side included Butt, Gary Neville, Scholes and Beckham, then little-known graduates from the FA Youth Cup, now names familiar throughout the English game.
This underlying strength has carried Ferguson and his team through a difficult period which other clubs, faced with similar circumstances, might have found catastrophic. With Mark Hughes, Paul Ince and Andrei Kanchelskis, each fundamental to United’s earlier triumphs, gone, Cantona unavailable and Andy Cole already looking an extravagant mistake, a season of consolidation looked a safe option. But the term is simply not part of Old Trafford’s vocabulary.
The ever-increasing wealth of United arouses considerable envy, not least from supporters of rival clubs. But this time Ferguson has won the title without making further major signings. Kevin Keegan, moreover, has spent nearly £1-million for each of his 40-odd months as Newcastle’s manager, and still seen his team overtaken for the title after holding a 12-point lead in late January.
Newcastle have played with flair and adventure but lacked consistency away from home. Manchester United have shown both flair and consistency, a potent combination.
If it is possible to identify the point at which the championship contest began to swing United’s way, then it was surely the opening 10 minutes of their match at St James’ Park on March 4, when Peter Schmeichel denied Newcastle a probable victory with two outstanding saves; Cantona’s goal eventually won the game.
Schmeichel’s massive assurance has become even more important for United, with injuries to Gary Pallister and Steve Bruce forcing Ferguson to shuffle his defence around. The resurgence of Roy Keane, and his partnership with Butt, has done much to keep United’s momentum going since the New Year and will be crucial at Wembley if Liverpool’s rhythm is to be disturbed.
ENDS