Sir Alex pens his thoughts before every home game for United
Review. You can read the column in full, the day after the
game…
This is the time I love best – non-stop football, with every
match now of immense significance, and the challenge of competing
on a number of fronts as we close in on our dreams.
I will be deploying the full range of our resources as I seek to
keep our teams at the level of energy you need at this level. It’s
what I did when we won our unique Treble, resting players and
bringing in others as I tried to pick teams fizzing for the
fray.
Life at the top in the English game is fierce and relentless.
The pace and intensity undoubtedly takes a toll, especially with so
many fixtures coming at you so quickly on the last lap for
trophies. You have to be up for every game or you can get punished,
so I will juggle our squad in the hope that we can keep as many
balls in the air and make progress on as many fronts as possible.
As I have said repeatedly, we have a quality squad, rich in terms
of both ability and numbers, and I intend to make full use of
it.
That’s why you saw several changes in the line-up that went out
against Everton at Wembley on Sunday, compared with the successful
side that beat Porto in midweek. I was well aware it was the
semi-final of the FA Cup, just one step from all the glamour and
glory associated with the Cup final. We certainly wanted to be
there, not least because it is a great day out for the fans and a
special occasion, too, for the folk back home watching on
television. But we must win the league championship and we have
some tough games coming up, starting tonight as we welcome
Portsmouth to Old Trafford.
So probably more changes for this fixture, to keep everyone as
lively as possible – and if you were ever in doubt about the value
of freshness in a team, you just have to look at our experience
against Porto in the Champions League.
In preparation for the first leg at Old Trafford we had a break
of just two days following Sunday’s Aston Villa match, and let a
winning position slip to end up with a 2-2 draw, conceding what
could easily have been two key away goals. Last week, with a
four-day break following the Sunderland game, we were more like our
normal selves, pulling off a great 1-0 win to book a semi-final
date against Arsenal – and what a tremendous battle is in prospect
there, by the way…
There’d been a great deal of negative feeling for our chances in
Porto, with much emphasis on no English team having won there
before. In the event we won well, with a performance that will be
remembered of course for Cristiano Ronaldo’s stunning goal. Hit
from 40 yards at rocket pace it got everybody talking – including,
I might say, his own team-mates!
Of course we were also helped by the return to action again of
our centre-back pairing of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, giving
us the understanding, balance and stability in the back line that
served us so well in the first half of the season. But at the end
of the day, I felt it was the freshness that was there right
through the team that enabled us to account for a very strong side
and win a pivotal game. It was a key result for us, not just in
terms of the Champions League, but to maintain a momentum that I
hope will make us successful in the other competitions.
Going out of Europe at that point would have been a real downer
all round that could easily have had repercussions. As it was, we
came home from Portugal on a high and went in to FA Cup action on
Sunday from the best possible platform.
The fact that we didn’t make it is no reflection on the youthful
side I put out. I was pleased with our performance. The youngsters
more than lived up to my expectations and they will be all the
better for the experience of playing at Wembley.
When I noted the pitch for the previous semi-final, and realised
how dead and heavy it was, there was no alternative but to make
changes. We certainly could not have afforded to run any risks on
that kind of surface. The boys matched Everton every inch of the
way, but there is no legislating for a penalty shoot-out.
At the same time, all credit to David Moyes and an Everton team
that played well and enjoyed that little bit of luck that wins
games when the referee ruled no penalty after young Danny Welbeck
had been brought down in the area. That’s how it goes sometimes,
and now we must focus on the remaining competitions.
This evening we turn back to the league with a particularly warm
greeting for Brian Kidd on his return to Old Trafford, as assistant
to Paul Hart who took over as manager of Portsmouth after the
departure of Tony Adams. Brian was in at the start of our
successful era when I brought him in from community football to
reorganise our local scouting set-up. He did a great job and I am
delighted to see him back in the front line of football after
recovering from illness.
I have lost a few assistants over the years with people like
Archie Knox, Brian, Steve McClaren and Carlos Queiroz all leaving
to become managers in their own right. I have always tried to
advise them, but I have never made strenuous efforts to hold them
back because to break out on their own is a natural desire for many
people and they have a right to express themselves. It’s just
pleasant to welcome them – and tonight, Brian – back to Old
Trafford.