Swansong for Scholes and Fergie; The trophy heads back home

An emotional day it was yesterday and Sir Alex who has been dominating the headlines from Tokyo to New York the whole week received a fitting reception and result for what was his last appearance at the theatre of dreams as a manager. Ever since he announced his decision to abdicate his throne, the highly anticipated weekend when the champions were to lift the trophy went up a notch in frenzy. I was all positioned before my television a good 10 minutes before the pre-game show and fidgeting around. Though it was all about Sir Alex, I didn't forget this was the last time our ginger prince would also weave his magic at Old Trafford. Now why would this not be emotional?

When the teams were announced, I was surprised to not find Rooney in the bench let alone the starting eleven. This confirmed the rumour that was also doing the rounds last week on his alleged request for transfer. However it was the neither the time nor the day to spare a thought for that cunning ba****d as it was all about the God of Manchester, God of Football. Given the occasion, Fergie fielded the best eleven with Scholes starting beside Carrick. Further, the gaffer was given a guard of honour by both the set of players, a deserving one or should I say it was the duty carried out. The crowd was in ebullient mood having secured the 20^th title and the fans created a mosaic featuring “20 CHAMPIONS 13”. All the fans were given a red flag to wave and the entire stadium was covered in red specks. MUFC were however thoughtful to provide the away supporters with white flags to celebrate their League cup win.

Guard of Honour

Once the game started, it was back to business for the Manager chewing gum and chatting with the assistant coach. Players in the field were all pumped up for the occasion and United were harassing the away team with continuous bombardment from all directions. If there was any occasional counter attack launched, they were swiftly hacked down. The reds were putting on a classy display to send off their manager on a high. And the home team was rewarded for their efforts with Chicarito doing what he does best – poaching a deflected ball from a free kick and slotting home a goal. It sent the rapturous crowd to their feet and Sir Alex was all gleeful. When the teams went in at half time, the tone was set for the game. Paul Scholes was the man pulling the strings in the middle of the park creating chance after chance and even came close to scoring one last time. Carrick was playing a second fiddle to the midfield magician who was constantly reminding us what we would be missing from the next season.

Rio Screamer

After the last half time talk by Fergie in OT, I was expecting United to pile on misery and carve Swansea out and scoring more goals. Unfortunately, it was the away team who started the half with intent to crash Fergie’s party and soon they were rewarded with an equalizer from none other than Michu. Was it complacency or being overwhelmed by the occasion, United started to lose the plot and were chasing the game in the second half. After an hour mark, as I expected, Sir Alex substituted Scholesy with Ando and the ovation given by the OT faithful was hair-raising. It was the gaffer’s way of thanking the genius for his contribution for the last 2 decades. It was also when Giggs was brought in to replace Welbeck – to soothe the nerves and create chances for United to win the game. It was not until 3 minutes from stoppage time that the matters were put to rest. Fergie found a saviour for his party in an unlikely source – Rio Ferdinand who latched to a poor clearance from a corner and thundered a volley in to the net. Yet another late goal from United that had come to define Fergie’s reign and the goal sent the OT crowd to delirium. We could also see Fergie doing his daddy dance, clearly delighted with the outcome after some nervy moments. On the whole, even if United slackened a bit in the second half, I could count everybody chipping in with their effort yesterday. There was a marvellous tackle from Scholesy without conceding a foul and winning the possession back. Kagawa was making some intelligent runs and showed glimpse of what he could offer the next season, RVP was determined to star in a play maker role, Jones deputizing for Rafael in RB hacking down any counter attack and Vidic and Ferdinand offering a composed back line. This was Fergie’s 1499^th game as a United manager!

Thanks to Star Sports for not thrusting any commercial breaks after the game as I was eager to follow the happenings in the pitch. But I guess that was because the manager was about to make a speech. Though he said he might ramble on without any prepared script, his oratorical side was at exhibition again as he made a heartfelt speech and requested everybody to support our new manager without naming him J. Of course we will be behind him the next season but today is about you. When it was time for the trophy presentation, it was Steve Bruce and Bryan Robson, ex captains of the United team who carried the trophy to the podium. Soon the gaffer and the team followed to collect their winner’s medals. As the trophy was presented to Vidic and Evra, captains of the season they chose to hand it over to the Manager who lifted it for the 13^th time in his career.

Not 20 forever?

As luck would have it, MUTV were providing a free link to follow further celebrations in the pitch and a lap of honour. The gaffer was accompanied by his eleven grandchildren, so cute, wearing a jersey that said “Granddad 20”. Awesome. It was another 30 minutes of celebration in the pitch which I did enjoy and that is when the gaffer opened up on when he decided to retire and on Rooney. He proved a point even at the end of his career by dropping the fat man and showing nobody is bigger than the club. I should however say, I didn't enjoy the studio setup of MUTV with Lou Macari and Ron Atkinson sharing their pearls of wisdom. Thank god, I was saved with some coverage of the dressing room where the players were enjoying posing with trophy and pulling other’s legs. David Gill and Malcolm Glazer were blindsided when the young kids opened the champagne on them who had joined the staff and the players in the title celebration. You could also spot Giggs and Scholes in the corner soaking in the mood in the room and happy for the ones winning their first medal. I guess that is what you expect when somebody wins for 13^th and 11^th time respectively. I could not write this up yesterday as it was well past midnight when MUTV stopped the telecast (well at least for free users LOL). I have whipped up this post now as quickly as possible to make it in time to catch the parade, again MUTV bringing it to us... J.

He scores goals galore; He scores goals.

Like how all good things have to come to an end, yesterday was perhaps an end of 2 glorious chapters in the history of Manchester United. You are never going to find another Paul Scholes. It was a shame he retired early from his international career – courtesy Erikson. The national team’s loss was the club’s gain I believe. Likewise, repeating a Ferguson is an impossible task and going by the present trend, if a manager could stay with the same club for more than few years the same will be celebrated – funny but possible.

           Let me sign off for the week with some piece of my mind.

• Thanks to Sir Alex Ferguson again for making an impossible dream made possible.
• Thanks to Paul Scholes for pure, unadulterated entertainment all these years.
• The little boy after all gets his flavour of ice cream, the one he wanted at the end of last season.
• For what it is worth, let us dump that twat to PSG or any oil sheikh bankrolled club outside PL. He is a piece of work, but if his heart is set elsewhere, why hold on to him and allow him to keep insulting us. What if Sir Alex will not be around, he deems Moyes fit to carry on with the work. So let us trust him to carry us for further seasons drenched with more glory.

          Another emotional weekend awaits, until then.