United in belief
Two down, three to go, while Fergie’s not getting carried away, the chase is on
.LONDON — Manchester United fans formed a huge mural from placards before kick-off, spelling out the word “believe”, as if confidence could ever possibly be a problem for an untouchable set of players who are champions of England, Europe and the world.
.Each of Alex Ferguson’s players believes in himself, in his team-mates and in the manager. Stars like Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov were rested but the belief remained in the red shirts.
.Such faith guided United through squalls of high pressure whipped up by Tottenham Hotspur’s outstanding Luka Modric and Aaron Lennon in the Carling Cup final at Wembley on Sunday (yesterday morning, Singapore time).
.Such poise helped United negotiate a penalty shoot-out with ease after a 0-0 scoreline after extra-time, the safe hands of Ben Foster assisting United in getting their eager hands on the trophy, the club’s second after winning December’s World Club Championships in Japan.
.The Carling Cup may appear small beer when set against United’s intoxication with more celebrated chalices, notably the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup, but there was an undeniable thirst for victory here.
.United’s DNA ensures they give everything in every game. Ferguson’s men wanted to lift this trophy, and keep the momentum going.
.Two down, three to go. Sunday was all about Carling, Foster and dreams of a five-pack. After two hours of interesting but not compelling action, the assurance that flows with the red blood and adrenaline through United veins was particularly evident, and they were brutal in executing their dead-ball duties.
.Ryan Giggs stepped up first, his penalty flew in off a post and any belief drained from Tottenham. Poor Jamie O’Hara, Spur’s first taker, resembled a man heading towards a firing squad. David Bentley’s subsequent miss meant the Red Devils could celebrate after Anderson slotted home their fourth spot kick.
.
.Redknapp’s betting on United now
.With United so imperious, and their squad’s strength in depth, it’s almost inconceivable that Ferguson would consider retiring anytime soon.
.While other clubs struggle with rotation, United do it with ease and look so lethal at the moment. For the League Cup Final, the Scotsman left out of his squad four of the club’s strongest players — Berbatov, Rooney, Michael Carrick and Edwin van der Sar.
.Tomorrow night (Thursday morning, Singapore time), Ferguson will again rotate his squad for the trip to Newcastle United in the Premiership — United are seven points ahead of Chelsea and Liverpool, with a game in hand — and again for their FA Cup quarter-final at Fulham on Saturday.
.By mid-March, the odds on a “quintuple” could be very much shorter, but the manager insists he’s not thinking about that.
.“Only you guys, the media, will get carried away with it,” he said. “We’ll keep our feet on the ground.
.“My experience is we could go to Fulham this weekend in the FA Cup and the ball comes off somebody’s backside and we are out of the cup. That is what cups can do to you.
.“The best thing we can do is gather ourselves, energise ourselves for Newcastle on Wednesday ... and go from there, taking it one step at a time.”
.Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has been around long enough to share Ferguson’s scepticism, but he believes United’s squad have more than enough quality in depth to make their own luck.
.“They have got a big chance — they are the team to beat,” he said. “They have a fantastic squad ... (and) it looks as if the league is going their way for sure.
.“And you wouldn’t bet against them in the Champions League and the FA Cup.”
.Few out there would, certainly not United and their fans. Belief courses through their veins. source Agencies
.LONDON — Manchester United fans formed a huge mural from placards before kick-off, spelling out the word “believe”, as if confidence could ever possibly be a problem for an untouchable set of players who are champions of England, Europe and the world.
.Each of Alex Ferguson’s players believes in himself, in his team-mates and in the manager. Stars like Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov were rested but the belief remained in the red shirts.
.Such faith guided United through squalls of high pressure whipped up by Tottenham Hotspur’s outstanding Luka Modric and Aaron Lennon in the Carling Cup final at Wembley on Sunday (yesterday morning, Singapore time).
.Such poise helped United negotiate a penalty shoot-out with ease after a 0-0 scoreline after extra-time, the safe hands of Ben Foster assisting United in getting their eager hands on the trophy, the club’s second after winning December’s World Club Championships in Japan.
.The Carling Cup may appear small beer when set against United’s intoxication with more celebrated chalices, notably the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup, but there was an undeniable thirst for victory here.
.United’s DNA ensures they give everything in every game. Ferguson’s men wanted to lift this trophy, and keep the momentum going.
.Two down, three to go. Sunday was all about Carling, Foster and dreams of a five-pack. After two hours of interesting but not compelling action, the assurance that flows with the red blood and adrenaline through United veins was particularly evident, and they were brutal in executing their dead-ball duties.
.Ryan Giggs stepped up first, his penalty flew in off a post and any belief drained from Tottenham. Poor Jamie O’Hara, Spur’s first taker, resembled a man heading towards a firing squad. David Bentley’s subsequent miss meant the Red Devils could celebrate after Anderson slotted home their fourth spot kick.
.
.Redknapp’s betting on United now
.With United so imperious, and their squad’s strength in depth, it’s almost inconceivable that Ferguson would consider retiring anytime soon.
.While other clubs struggle with rotation, United do it with ease and look so lethal at the moment. For the League Cup Final, the Scotsman left out of his squad four of the club’s strongest players — Berbatov, Rooney, Michael Carrick and Edwin van der Sar.
.Tomorrow night (Thursday morning, Singapore time), Ferguson will again rotate his squad for the trip to Newcastle United in the Premiership — United are seven points ahead of Chelsea and Liverpool, with a game in hand — and again for their FA Cup quarter-final at Fulham on Saturday.
.By mid-March, the odds on a “quintuple” could be very much shorter, but the manager insists he’s not thinking about that.
.“Only you guys, the media, will get carried away with it,” he said. “We’ll keep our feet on the ground.
.“My experience is we could go to Fulham this weekend in the FA Cup and the ball comes off somebody’s backside and we are out of the cup. That is what cups can do to you.
.“The best thing we can do is gather ourselves, energise ourselves for Newcastle on Wednesday ... and go from there, taking it one step at a time.”
.Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has been around long enough to share Ferguson’s scepticism, but he believes United’s squad have more than enough quality in depth to make their own luck.
.“They have got a big chance — they are the team to beat,” he said. “They have a fantastic squad ... (and) it looks as if the league is going their way for sure.
.“And you wouldn’t bet against them in the Champions League and the FA Cup.”
.Few out there would, certainly not United and their fans. Belief courses through their veins. source Agencies
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