Money can’t buy you love or title triumph
On Sunday, we saw how money doesn’t always guarantee instant success. Manchester United moved eight points clear at the top and as good as claimed another Premier League title and probably Sir Alex Ferguson’s most satisfying one to date.
At one point, when Manchester City demolished United at Old Trafford, everybody – myself included – thought that was the beginning of United’s demise. But ever since then, they have used it as a source of motivation to keep hold of their title. The inspired reincarnation of Paul Scholes was a masterstroke by the “Godfather” that is Ferguson and, since his return, United have not looked back.
Now, cross over to City and you see an array of expensively assembled world-class players missing that one secret ingredient – unity. As I watched them lose 1-0 at Arsenal, I felt for the likes of Hart, Kompany, Lescott, Zabaleta and Richards because they have given everything for the cause only to be dreadfully let down by the amateur antics of the likes of Balotelli and Tevez.
You will not find a finer captain than Kompany but even he must feel as though he is fighting a losing battle when, at one end of the pitch, he is fighting for the title and, at the other end, Balotelli is handing it to United with another petulant performance and a sending off. Mancini must now also be doubting his own future, with City having promised so much at the start of the season but now looking like they will finish it empty handed.
Go back to United. If Balotelli was playing for them and he pulled a few of his stunts, it’s safe to say that he would already be plying his trade at another club. One thing Ferguson knows is that no one player is bigger than United, whether you are a Keane or a Beckham.
Yes, some of United’s players have been involved in various misdemeanours over the years but they got reprimanded and very rarely did it happen again. United know how to get the job done on the pitch and their achievement this season, especially without their leader Vidic, is nothing less than remarkable.
United do need to reinvest, as do most teams, but the one thing that they have always done as they go through transitional periods is continue to win trophy after trophy. They are the best team again and I wouldn’t bet against them being the best team again next year regardless of how much City spend in the summer.
Although it would of been nice to see City take the title, it is much better to see a team winning it by grinding out results and having a great team spirit rather than buying the league. That’s football at it’s best.
