Don't get me wrong - this isn't a pre-emptive post-mortem. I've got my nails sunk into the same straw as all other United fans, namely that hot-and-cold Wigan can somehow upset the odds and beat Chelsea again, and that we can overcome the party-pooping efforts of a well-drilled Stoke City side.But, should Chelsea take the title and leave us with just one piece of silverware - the Carling Cup - to show for our efforts, it really needn't all be doom and gloom.
Last weekend, I was filled with pride by the manner with which the team performed at Sunderland. It really was the mark of champions to put in such a commanding performance against fired up, in-form opposition being urged on by a frothing home support. Especially after Chelsea's earlier win at Anfield.
I spoke to a couple of players on Monday at Carrington, and they both conceded it was demoralising to watch the Blues stroll to victory. As one player put it to me, Anfield is "one of the hardest places in the world to go and get a result. Usually."
So to then go out, dust themselves down and take three points in such an impressive manner really speaks volumes for the professionalism of our squad. Lesser teams may have been broken by the sense that they were merely delaying the inevitable; our boys simply upped their game.
And it's the latest example of the club's sheer will to succeed. This legendary attitude has pulled us through countless scrapes in the past, and especially so this season. Recall the fightbacks against Arsenal, Spurs (twice), CSKA Moscow, AC Milan, Liverpool and Aston Villa - plus three injury-time wins over City.
There have been low points and poor performances, of course. The eight days of Chelsea-Bayern-Blackburn gave Old Trafford and Carrington an air of mourning, and a record of winning just three of the ten Premier League games that immediately followed Champions League fixtures is a cause for concern.
Furthermore, a spate of injuries, either to key players at key times or across entire departments of the squad at once, has tested even our pools of talent. It's half-tempting to bemoan a spate of bad refereeing decisions - particularly in our defeat at Chelsea - but then Liverpool fans may well still harbour a grudge over the key penalty United received at home to Spurs last season.
Either way, through it all, United have plugged away, won some silverware, unluckily exited Europe at the quarter-final stage and taken the Premier League title race down to the final day. In a season which began with the loss of two players whose combined transfer fees exceeded £100million.
If Chelsea beat Wigan and take the crown, they will be worthy champions. In this most unpredictable of seasons, they've looked the most likely to win it all along, and their perfect record against the rest of what used to be the 'big four' has to be applauded.
Whichever way the pendulum swings, United should be commended for putting up such a brave effort in the face of adversity. That's a true hallmark of champions, with or without the trophy to prove it.
Article Contributed by Manchester United Fans Blog. The views expressed in this article are personal to the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Manchester United FC or One United USA.
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