United: Built To Last The Course

No club in the Premier League era can match United’s know-how in finishing a season strongly - and there are plenty of reasons for optimism in this run-in…

The young and restless

The fresh-faced verve that underpinned United’s fast start to the season could prove integral if the Reds are going to muster a sprint for the line. Sir Alex’s squad remains imbued with vitality, an energy possessed in spades by the youthful; one that, properly harnessed, can make this an unforgettable climax to a topsy-turvy campaign. The desire to do so, according to Danny Welbeck, burns brightly in the United dressing room.

“I don’t think anybody understands how hungry we are for this title,” says the striker. “We’re lucky to be in this position but it is hard work and we want to fulfil our dreams, win the title and keep winning and keep winning. There’s nothing going to stop us.” Welbeck has embodied United’s campaign; conducting himself with skill, desire and increasing street smarts as the harsh lessons of top-level football have accumulated by the game.

Now, as the stakes rise, the Longsight lad and his fellow fledglings are relishing the chance to win their first domestic crown. “These are exciting times, definitely,” he says. “Going out every weekend and playing in these games, there’s nothing better than that. It’s so exciting and you just want to win so badly. I think you’ve got to be confident within yourselves to know that once you come to these games, you’re going to win.”

The undiluted enthusiasm with which the Reds’ youngsters are pounding the home straight carries an infectious excitement.

Men at the barricades

Composed influences are vital to steer United’s youngsters on the right side of the fine line between excitement and impulsiveness, especially in defence. As the squad’s most-decorated defenders, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra are well-qualified to steady the ship, while Jonny Evans, at 24, has emerged victorious from two title run-ins at Old Trafford and played a key role in Sunderland’s promotion of 2006/07. Of the Reds’ first-team defenders, only Phil Jones is yet to sample such top-of-the-table rigours. “We’re in a good position,” says Rio. “We’ve been here before and have the experience and nerve to know what it takes to win it.”

The injury-enforced fluidity of United’s selections in defence this term has mercifully eased in recent weeks, allowing a familiarity to build between the backline and their goalkeeper, David De Gea. The Spaniard’s strong mentality helped him withstand the forensic scrutiny of his first few months in English football, and his recent spell of sterling form augurs well for the coming months. He is relishing the challenge of commanding his senior cohorts.

“To order men like Patrice Evra and Rio Ferdinand around is not easy for a rookie like me,” says De Gea. “But they are very professional and tell me the goalkeeper is the owner of the area and accept what I say.”

After a whirlwind spell of upheaval in the first half of the season, harmony has broken out in a crucial area of the United set-up – and at a vital time.

Middle-game masters

If you’re looking for experience and know-how, you’ll find it in United’s engine room. Serial silverware collectors Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick have amassed 26 league medals between them and, more than ever this term, have shown their knack for stepping up when all appears lost.

Take last month’s at-the-death win at Norwich: Giggs snatched an invaluable victory by despatching Ashley Young’s cross, but prior to the move’s denouement, it was Scholes and Carrick who were patiently playing the ball from side-to-side, probing and waiting for the right moment. The latter – a comparative pup at just 30 – has been involved in sprints for the line in each of his previous five seasons with the Reds, and he knows that now is no time to be getting carried away.

“We are satisfied with the situation we are in,” says Carrick. “But just because we have come through a tough two months doesn’t mean we will sail through the next two. We are not getting carried away or taking anything for granted. We know how quickly it can come back and bite us.”

This season’s added subplot of duelling with local rivals for the title isn’t lost on Carrick, but he insists the ultimate motivation remains unchanged.

“Since I have been here, we have always been up against someone, whether that is two teams or three,” Carrick says. “With it being City and so local, it develops into something different. At the same time, it's about winning games and focusing on ourselves.”

Wing commanders

Rudimentary maths tells us that three into two doesn’t go, but the availability of Nani, Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young would provide Sir Alex with a delightfully difficult choice of weapons for the remainder of the campaign.

The trio of pacy wingers have all enjoyed sparkling form at various stages of the season, only to be hampered by injury. Since December’s thumping win at Fulham, the three have only featured together in one matchday squad.

Young began his United career in sensational fashion before picking up an assortment of niggling knocks. Valencia missed pre-season, then deputised at full-back until mid-October before playing his way into stunning form either side of the turn of the year. His return from a hamstring injury will provide United with a rampaging power down the right flank, while Nani’s latest comeback can also prove pivotal. The Portuguese trickster has averaged almost a goal in every three starts this term, but has also been sidelined by a bruised foot in recent weeks after sustaining an ankle knock in January’s win at Arsenal.

“It has been difficult to get the consistency,” Nani admits. “I am getting there but I need more minutes. I will work hard to come back because we need every player. All the players that have been injured – to have them back for the squad is great for the manager. There are so many top players in the squad and if you’ve got plenty to pick from it can only do us good for the run-in for the rest of the season.”

Having Nani and his fellow fliers available will provide a supply line ripe for the picking.

The talisman

In the Barclays Premier League, only City can match United’s assortment of striking riches, yet United have the edge in the colossal influence of Wayne Rooney.

The Reds’ no.10 has plundered goals galore this season – hitting an especially rich vein of form in recent weeks – and is dictating United’s attacking tempo while also seeing to the all-important task of putting the ball in the onion bag.

For the Blues, Sergio Aguero has excelled as a penalty area predator, Mario Balotelli has largely channelled his considerable talents into finishing off approach play and Edin Dzeko remains an aerial threat despite his sporadic form since October.

The closest City have to Rooney in terms of team-wide influence, though, is saviour-turned-outcast-turned-potential-saviour, Carlos Tevez. Whether he can return and relieve the creative burden on David Silva could be critical to City’s chances.

Rooney, meanwhile, has demonstrated his ability to play with each of his striking partners – Chicharito, Dimitar Berbatov and, most regularly this term, Danny Welbeck – taking the creative lead in each partnership to demonstrate his growing seniority.

“When I was a young lad we might have been losing a game 1-0 or 2-1 and I’d have been saying ‘just put the ball in the box’ and panicking a bit about losing the game,” he says. “Now I’m older and more experienced you know how to just keep playing your game because there’s always a chance you’ll get an opportunity to score.” Blues be warned: he makes them and he takes them.

Knight watchman

Thankfully, the one man everybody would like in their dugout at this stage of the season still occupies the home bench at OT. Sir Alex Ferguson is looking to clinch a 13th English league title in the coming weeks, and he’s seen it all before, with every conceivable twist and turn. Be it shock results, injuries, suspensions or any other hindrance, he’s ready. “We won’t get nervous,” Sir Alex says ominously.

Even last season, when his evolving side struggled to cope with the demands of playing away in the Premier League, the boss calmly steered his side to a nine-point triumph over perennial challengers Chelsea. This year has arguably been an even greater feat. Allowing his fresh-faced side to learn on the job with help from some wise old heads, he has guided the Reds through a hair-tearing spate of injuries to remain firmly in contention despite the form of Roberto Mancini’s Blues.

A fortnight ago, with the finish line in sight, Sir Alex used his United Review column to enlist the choral backing of the Red Army. “I’m calling for a combined effort of players and supporters to get us to the line with winning form on our own ground,” he wrote. “Our crowd can make a big difference.” He, and we, should know.