Rafael da Silva: From media scapegoat to saint

The Red Devils have been rampaging away this season, brushing aside their strongest rivals with unbelievable success. They almost have one hand on the EPL title and have already fought Real Madrid to a stalemate in their own backyard. What have they got this season that they lacked last season?

Now people would easily point out the obvious Flying Dutchman, the new darling of Old Trafford, Robin Van Persie. But then there is something more at work, for surely even RVP cannot carry the team alone, even if he is supported by Rooney. What many do not realise yet is the growing maturity of the young players who have evolved into key components of the United system. One player in particular stands out: Rafael.

Gary Neville, the finest right back that Ferguson ever had, retired in 2011, and the gaffer was under pressure to sign an established RB. Instead of following the obvious way, he signed the young da Silva twins and utilised Wes Brown and John O’Shea in preparation for the arrival of Rafael. His arrival was not very promising, as he was constantly criticised for his over-zealous and rash approach.

7th April, 2010. United played against Bayern Munich at Old Trafford trying to overturn a 2-1 first leg deficit. The match was very closely contested with a 2-1 half time score in United’s favour. Then came the turning point of the match, when an over-eager Rafael fouled Ribery and in turn received a second yellow card.

The media tagged Rafael as the major reason for United’s resulting loss and no one could really contest the labels that were put on him. His over-zealous attitude seemed to always cloud his judgement, and despite his unwavering enthusiasm, a United fan would wince whenever he dived into tackles or was in a 1-on-1 situation. His attacking abilities were never in question, but all too often, he would find himself out of position and struggling to track back. That was the Rafael of ‘Old’.

Despite repeated criticism, Sir Alex Ferguson stuck with him, placing unwavering faith in him, which he started to pay back little by little. This season in particular, he has blossomed into a mature and consistent player, a player who can be relied upon. If RVP is the obvious player of the season, then Rafael is a close second. Not many will forget the scorcher that he hit against QPR to put Man United 1-0 up. In the same game, he showed another aspect where he has been under-appreciated, his crossing. The diagonal cross ball that he played for Van Persie was a gem and deserved a goal.

This is not to say that he is perfect now, for he did have a horrid game against Reading, and his height was taken advantage of by Southampton, but these are minor flaws that a player as young as him would surely improve upon.

In a season when Right Backs in particular have been utterly ineffective in the Premier League, he has stood out the most and has clearly been the best RB in the EPL. Whether he can fill the shoes of Maicon and Dani Alves for Brazil is something that only time can tell, but you certainly cannot bet against it.