Congratulations, Manchester United: The key players and stats behind Sir Alex Ferguson’s men becoming the kings of English football

Following their 2-1 defeat of Chelsea at Old Trafford last Sunday, Manchester United’s crowning as Premier League champions was matter of when, not if and having successfully secured a 1-1 draw at Ewood Park, Sir Alex Ferguson’s men can finally celebrate the club’s 19th title.

This side’s obituary had been written in August and altered throughout the campaign, with both Chelsea and Arsenal threatening to kill off a side who have been anything but flawless in a rollercoaster season in the red half of Manchester. But as has so often been the case under Ferguson, United have overcome all obstacles to lift the giant trophy once again.

United’s transfer dealings ahead of the 2010-11 season combined both the sublime and the ridiculous. The £8 million spent on Bebe, an unknown quantity from Portugal, has so far proved a terrible piece of business, with many stating that he could be Ferguson’s worst ever signing.

In contrast, the signing of Javier Hernandez from Chivas following a superb World Cup performance could yet prove to be the Scot’s greatest ever move. The Mexican has already secured hero status at the club and has impressed to an extent where the club’s leading scorer this season, Dimitar Berbatov, has seen his season peter out on the sidelines. Chicharito may well just be the final piece in Ferguson’s jigsaw as he looks to create a new era of riches at Old Trafford.

The season began with United aiming to overthrow last season’s double winners Chelsea and started their campaign with a comfortable 3-0 win over Newcastle. A performance which would prove the start of an unbelievable season at Old Trafford, which returned to its fortress status of old, with United having only failed to win once, drawing against West Brom.

With a 3-2 win over Liverpool courtesy of Berbatov’s finest ever performance at the club and victory over Arsenal at Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson’s men were leading the way in a title race in which all challengers were proving fallible as winter approached.

Still unbeaten by the turn of the year but stuttering along the way, United were struggling to lay their claim as the best in the land despite sitting at the summit on January 1 alongside noisy neighbours Manchester City.

Mancini’s men were to fall away and despite challenges from Arsenal and Chelsea, both of whom beat United at their respective grounds in the second half of the season, doubts over the quality of Ferguson’s charges were rarely as great as the resilience they showed time and again.

For a team in which success is clearly a reward for the efforts of the collective, as opposed to those that provide its individual parts, United are no longer the one man team as which they were labelled during the years of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Indeed, the performances of Nemanja Vidic, as imposing a defensive figure as teams are likely to face in the Premier League, and Chicharito, the next potential leading man at the Theatre of Dreams, have shone over others throughout the campaign but individual honours will be seen as a sidenote in the annuls of history when looking back at a season when the club knocked Liverpool off their perch; Ferguson’s original aim two decades ago.

If a game was to epitomise the superiority of United over their challengers, last week’s victory over Chelsea defined the season of a club whose desperation to secure their 19th title was palpable.

It took only 36 seconds for United to be put firmly into the driving seat thanks to Chicharito’s clinical ability in front of goal.

For a United team who often make things difficult for themselves, Carlo Ancelotti’s men left Old Trafford having made it decidedly easy for their title challengers. Delivering when it mattered most, you’d be hard pressed to find a more fitting requirement of the champions.

Reservations linger over this United side and with Ryan Giggs and Edwin Van der Sar, two veterans who have offered a youthful exuberance that has defied logic at times, getting a year older, replacements will eventually be required if the club are going to continue such lucrative form in the near future.

The Champions League final awaits as United look to take down a Barcelona side who have looked near invincible once again this season but having seen the side whom so many questioned way back in August, domestic success will have been top of Ferguson’s agenda.

The Scot’s 12th title has been secured but with the usual challenges from the capital having been sure to come next season, in addition to battles a little closer to home from Liverpool and Manchester City, the 69-year-old won’t be finished just yet.

Whether this team goes on to become another Sir Alex Ferguson vintage remains to be seen. The popping of champagne bottles in Manchester this evening will certainly speak louder than the doubters ahead of next season’s campaign, for which the Red Devils are already favourites to pick up title number 20.