Manchester United had an unusual, but successful September, which saw them climb to the summit of the English Premier League, and get off to winning ways in both the Carling Cup and the Champions League.
Sir Alex Ferguson was selected as Barclay’s Premiership Manager of the Month for the 24th time. He guided United to three wins against Tottenham, Manchester City and Stoke City. United knocked both Spurs and City from the ranks of the unbeaten.
United also defeated Wolverhampton 1-0 to advance to the fourth round of the Carling Cup, and that match showed the test of character for the entire squad. As he always does, Ferguson fielded a mix of youngsters with some old heads. These resolve of the players was surely tested as they played over an hour of football done a man.
Player of the Month
When a team goes through a month without a defeat, there are usually a few players that made a significant contribution, but without question, Ryan Giggs has been the Player of the Month for the Reds.
Giggs rolled back the years and showed his experience, his leadership and his ability to still turn a match on its head to lead United to their best-ever start to Premier League season.
Against Spurs, he scored United’s goal of the month with a perfectly struck free kick that got United back into the match after conceding a goal in the first minute of play. He provided the leadership that was needed for United to see out the victory following the sending off of Paul Scholes.
He turned in a Man of the Match performance in the Manchester derby as he teased and tormented City defenders all afternoon. Giggs was left on the bench against Stoke City, and the Reds were being left frustrated by the Potters, but the introduction of the Welshman saw United finally break them down and earn a well-deserved 2-0 victory.
Victory over Wolfsburg saw Giggs collect his 150th career goal and he also provided the match winning assist.
Positive
Following an international break, United entered a very tricky fixture list with away visits to Tottenham, Besiktas and Stoke City, as well as entertaining Manchester City, Wolverhampton and VfL Wolfsburg at Old Trafford.
September is never the month that shapes or really influences how a team successful a team is, but with two of the most difficult away Premier League fixtures at White Hart Lane & Britannia Stadium, it was never going to be an easy month.
With grit and determination, United came through the month unscathed and atop of both their Champions League Group and the Premier League.
Everywhere
There were questions to where United would get their goals this season and they answered their critics: from the collective group of players.
In their six matches during the month of September, United scored 13 goals, but conceded only four.
United had nine different goalscorers in the month with only Giggs, Darren Fletcher and Wayne Rooney tallying more than one.
Five of the 13 goals scored have come from players who are considered forwards (Rooney, Michael Owen, Dimitar Berbatov and Danny Welbeck). Five midfielders found the scoresheet, and most impressively Anderson scored his first goal for United (Fletcher, Paul Scholes, Anderson, Michael Carrick and Giggs). The only defender to score for United during the month was John O'Shea when he scored a brilliant header against Stoke.
Three of those five goals lost came in the hotly-contested Manchester derby, which United won in dramatic fashion 4-3. Twice United were forced to come-from-behind to win against Spurs and Wolfsburg, respectively.
Everyone knows that champions are never crowned in September, but Manchester United has never been known for having a flying start to a season, so this will be a welcomed relief and will best please all of the supporters, players and the coaching staff.
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