With so many storylines coming from the hotly-contested Manchester United v. Manchester City derby over the weekend, the biggest story has to be the enthusiasm and energy that still burns deep within the ageless Sir Alex Ferguson.
Sir Alex, who turns 68 years old in December, has to be one of the most enthusiastic managers in the game. He was scene celebrating like 20-year old who won his first English Premier League title after United scored the last-gasp winner against City.
His burning desire, which only comes from within, has never come close to going out.
He could have left football many times before, but it is his love for Manchester United, which is second-to-none, that has prolonged his tenure as manager.
Onslaught
While the players will take most of the credit for the hard-fought victory over City, it was his tactical changes at halftime that inspired them. He saw a weakness in the City armor, and he exposed it.
He knew that if his players were able to get down the flank and whip in crosses, which City’s central defenders would not be able to handle, and was he right.
There were times that City was not able the chance to catch their breath in the second half, because of the pressure that was put was being constantly thrown at them.
United created chance after chance, and put two of those headers away, and if it weren’t for some last-ditch defending and some superb goalkeeping – United could have easily put the match to bed – that and the inexcusable errors by both Ben Foster and Rio Ferdinand!
Prolonging
Ryan Giggs rolled back the years with yet another vintage performance against Manchester City, but it has to be said that if he was playing for another manager, he would not be in the scintillating form that he is in.
The same can be said for Paul Scholes’ performances against Tottenham and Besiktas last week (although he was wrongfully sent off against Spurs).
Ferguson has to be one of the greatest man-managers in the history of the game. He has gotten the best out of his players, because he knows when to use them, and when not to use them. The careers of Giggs, Scholes and Gary Neville have had their careers prolonged, because Sir Alex has used, but not abused them for the greater good of Manchester United.
He has used each of them in different roles, and knows very well that he does not have them at his disposal for every match. Sir Alex - and so do they - knows that they cannot perform week in and week out anymore, so he uses them in various positions and against the right opposition.
He does not want to waste Scholes or Giggs against the likes of Birmingham or Wolverhampton, because of the combativeness nature of the clubs that are fighting for their Premier League lives, but he also knows that their experience can be used to spark United into life, if need be.
The “Famous Three” have amassed an astonishing 1,995 matches between them for the United.
Patience & Faith
While Sir Alex has an unquestioned eye for talent, he has always remained faithful and has given up and coming players a chance to develop into their potential.
A player that has surely benefited from this policy is Sir Alex’s fellow countryman, Darren Fletcher.
Fletcher was a bit of an unknown, lanky midfielder when he first came through the United youth system. He was seen as a fringe player at best for the past few seasons, but Ferguson remained faithful and patient with his development, and now the United supporters are seeing the end product.
Fletcher has developed into a mature player and his name is usually one of the first ones on the team sheet.
Proving
Sir Alex has always been known for bringing in players at all costs to keep striving United forward to be successful in both the short-term and long-term.
Youth has always been an integral part of the history and success at United, but it was the bringing in a player with top-level experience that shocked the footballing world this season, and it has already paid immediate dividends.
Michael Owen was perhaps the most controversial signing of the summer for the obvious reasons, but Sir Alex looks to have struck gold with the 29-year old. Even if he does not score another goal for United, which is highly unlikely, Owen will go down in United folklore with his last-gasp winner against City.
Sir Alex Ferguson has always received flack by the opposition, but when it comes down to it, the greatest form of respect is jealousy and envy.
No comments:
Post a Comment