Having thrilled the crowds for most of this season with Cristiano
Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, it was ironic that Manchester United
should win the Premier League title without even kicking a ball on
Sunday.
The dazzle of United's attacking football, with 83 goals scored
in their 36 games after Saturday's derby win over Manchester City,
was the hallmark of the Old Trafford club's 16th championship
success.
Ronaldo's surging runs and clever step-overs, which brought him
three Player of the Year awards, Rooney's superb finishing and the
cutting edge in midfield of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes made for an
unstoppable package.
The goal tally far outweighed last season's 36-game haul of 68
and was the difference between runners-up spot behind Chelsea and
being champions for the first time since 2003.
United's defence also played its part, notably with Nemanja
Vidic and Patrice Evra stepping up a level this season at
center-half and left-back respectively, while Michael Carrick did
an elegant job in the holding midfield role.
Off the pitch, the credit clearly goes to manager Alex Ferguson,
whose drive and determination are undimmed despite celebrating his
20th year in the United hotseat in November and his 65th birthday
on New Year's Eve.
His grip on the United dressing room remains iron-like and the
Scot is still more than ready to cross swords with football
officialdom and other managers in defence of his club's
interests.
Sunday's triumph marked his 18th major trophy with United and
the haul could soon rise to 19 if they beat Chelsea in the FA Cup
final at the new Wembley Stadium on May 19.
Certainly, their league form over the past year will give
Ferguson's men a psychological edge.
Stung by Chelsea's two consecutive titles, United made their
intentions clear right from the start of the season with a 5-1
thrashing of Fulham -- Rooney scoring twice and Ronaldo once.
Three more league wins followed before Ferguson's men faced
their first real test against old rivals Arsenal in September.
United failed as Arsene Wenger's side got into their passing
rhythm, played the better football and were rewarded with a late
winner from Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor at Old Trafford.
New heights
But the defeat prompted United to reach new heights and was the
reason, according to Ferguson, why they beat future Champions
League finalists Liverpool 2-0 in another showcase encounter at Old
Trafford a month later.
"You know you can't afford to lose a big one again," said the
Scot. "The players responded to that. I think their performance was
excellent."
In fact, United did not lose in the league again until the week
before Christmas, bizarrely going down 1-0 at relegation strugglers
West Ham United.
They kept up that momentum despite Arsenal coming from behind to
complete the double over them in a pulsating finale at the Emirates
in January.
It served as another fillip, with United scoring 10 times
without reply in their next three league games.
They have now cantered to the title with a week to spare despite
dropping points in the closing stages to Portsmouth and
Middlesbrough, and should enjoy visiting Chelsea on Wednesday.
Once tipped as a title decider, United can now expect a guard of
honour at Stamford Bridge - two years after Ferguson's men
performed the same duty for Chelsea at Old Trafford.
(China Daily via Agencies May 8, 2007)
