Manchester United: Champions elect

In a few hours from now, the title race could well be over. Manchester United are a win away from securing an unprecedented 20th league title. Against Aston Villa, a win will guarantee just that.

There has been a whole lot said and written about this Manchester United squad. In some quarters, it is viewed as one of the greatest that Sir Alex has put together, eclipsing even the treble winning one of 1999. In other quarters, this same squad is being slagged off as being lucky and extremely average.

This season has been one of ups and downs. While performances have not been as stellar as in some years past, the key word has been consistency. Roberto Mancini remarked before the Manchester derby that United did not deserve to be 15 points ahead at the time. His City team went on to win the derby. Subsequently, they beat Chelsea in the FA Cup and then Wigan in the Premier League. Then, however, they went on and lost to Tottenham, who, it must be said, looked very average until they equalized. City simply capitulated.

United, on the other hand, went on to bounce back from the defeat to overcome a battering from a Stoke side and won two nil. West Ham provided another physical test and this time, United salvaged a draw from a losing position. Consistency. Today, they have the chance of winning the title by doing at Aston Villa what they have been doing all through the season – winning.

United have looked extremely average at many times this season. They have looked jaded and war-beaten. Yet, at other instances they have looked untouchable. Things seem to click into gear and their play is poetry in motion. The most frustrating part, however, has been that the two aforementioned states have often been in the same game. They seem to doze in some parts of the game and then burst into life in others.

The other criticism that has been often levelled at United this term is that they tend to get into a position of comfort – at most times, a one goal lead – and then tend to sit back a little too much; and if there is one thing that you can be sure of, it is that United will give you a chance. Some of the better teams have taken this chance while some of the less better teams have been unable to. In this respect, one can label United to be lucky. Then again, one always makes one’s own luck.

Sir Alex has rotated his squad, as he always does. This season, however, he has done so quite extensively. Until March, he had never fielded the same back four for two consecutive games. Now, part of the reason for this, of course, is the unnatural amount of injuries that United defenders seem to pick up (uncannily, most at the same time). The other part is also that he is forced to do this because of Rio’s fitness management and Vidic’s chronic absence. Evans has stepped up and this is welcome. Rafael and Evra have been probably United’s most consistent performers at the back this term.

If there is one criticism that is levelled against Sir Alex, it is on the question of his questionable team selection from time to time. United’s exit in the cup competitions warrants a further look into this in the least. However, by and large, the teams that he has put out have done the job for him.

Finally, there is that famed never-say-die attitude that some call the The United Spirit. I would not be that romantic but then again, if something happens over and over again, it cannot be by mere accident. United do have something in them, something that is instilled in them by the manager himself that makes them winners, just like their manager.

If one were to reflect on the season, it promised much. The dream of a treble tricked down to the hope of a domestic double which then watered down to a single. In some quarters, this might be viewed as a failure from a season that promised so much. However, in the face of ever increasing, and ever-improving, competition, a Premier League win with a gap of 15 points with 5 games to go is no mean feat.