Special Feature: What does a final at Wembley mean for Sir Alex Ferguson? – Part 2
Manchester United’s finest moment under Sir Matt Busby came at the same venue in Wembley, London. It would make perfect sense if Ferguson’s United get to the final in May, 2011. It would be almost magical if they do manage to win the whole thing altogether.
Such an occurrence wouldn’t be unnatural in any sense of the world. Manchester United has the squad to pull another European win off. Whether they will be able to do it is another matter altogether. It will almost be the finish line for Sir Alex as well, someone who has again and again reiterated his desire to emulate Sir Matt Busby and also to improve on Manchester United’s record in European club cup competitions.
When Ferguson joined Manchester United, he said that his job was to knock Liverpool right off their perch - a perch, which was situated at the top of English club football. Liverpool since then have been dislodged quite emphatically as in the past 18 years, they have failed to gather even a single English Premier League trophy. One more thing that Sir Alex can achieve with a triumphant United at Wembley come May is the record of Bob Paisley.
The only football manager ever to win three European cups with a single club has been Liverpool’s Bob Paisley. If Ferguson gets his third European title with United in the 2010/2011 UEFA Champions League, he will equal Paisley’s record and to spice things up. If United win the league title in 2010/2011 English Premier League season as well, then it will be their 19th English league title which will take them above and beyond Liverpool’s tally of 18.
Nonetheless, there are many obstacles in Ferguson’s path to immortalization. Firstly, there is Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid who are armed and equipped with the former Manchester United winger, Cristiano Ronaldo. Fergie himself knows that Ronaldo is capable of inflicting massive damage upon his opponents and if both clubs come face to face, the old Scotsman is also aware of the fact that Ronaldo will be out to prove himself once again.
Real’s challenge is supplemented by the strength that is possessed by their local rivals Barcelona, Manchester United’s nemesis of the 2009 UEFA Champions League final. One should not forget Inter Milan as well - the Italian giants are current European Champions and will not give up their crown without a worthy fight. For Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United, several things will determine the course of this season.
It will be interested to see whether the likes of Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville will be able to keep their fitness levels up to the expectations. Rooney’s strike rate will also be an important factor in deciding whether the silverware does indeed come to Old Trafford this season.
Ferguson will also hope that Dimitar Berbatov will finally come to the party this season and reproduce his Tottenham form which impressed managers and players throughout the footballing world. The 30 million pound striker has so far not been able to win over Manchester United’s fans.
There is massive anticipation in Manchester United’s camp with regard to their new signing in the shape of Javier Hernandez as well. The Mexican striker is the centre of attention and as the season progresses, he will be given more and more game time by the experienced gaffer.
One thing is for sure, if Manchester United, England’s most famous football club, do make it to Wembley for the UEFA Champions League final, it might just be the final hurrah for Ferguson. The last bow, the last match, on 29th of May 2011, Sir Alex will be nearing his 9000th day in-charge at Manchester United, and perhaps it will be a fitting goodbye to what has been a tremendously overwhelming journey.
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