Champions League Or Premier League?
I was thinking tonight about how far we have come under the Fergie regime and that little comment he made many moons ago about “knocking Liverpool off their perch”.
At the time, it seemed like an act of bravado and few believed he would actually accomplish it but here we are with a 19th League title so near and yet so far away from our grasp. It is the one that will knock Liverpool off their perch. It is the one that will mean more to Sir Alex Ferguson than all the rest with the possible exception of the very first.
Of course, to truly knock Liverpool off their perch, we would have to overtake their domestic haul AND their haul of five European Cups. That Fergie has not been able to at least equal them on that score as well despite having some excellent teams down the years will probably irk him to his grave.
The fact that Liverpool won it for that fifth time despite seeming to be second best throughout most of their campaign just doesn’t seem justified to me and had they not won it that year then they would be on four with us capable of winning four this season.
However, they DID win it for the fifth time and we are stuck on three and it has taken Fergie 24 years to win two of those. At that rate, he will have to remain in the job well into his nineties! Personally, I think a Fergie with senile dementia and the loss of basic bodily functions could still do a better job than most but it ain’t gonna happen is it?
If we could win the Champions League this season then that magical haul of five would be tantalisingly within our grasp next season, just as that 19th Premier League title is this season.
So, whilst we are not guaranteed either trophy this season. What do you think Fergie would take if you offered it him right now?
The Champions League but you lose the Premier League or the Premier League but you go out of the Champions League against AC Milan?
Or do you think he would say “I would fight to win them both and if I fall between two stools and win neither, so be it!”?
For the record, I would go with the Premier League. No one has ever won the League four years in a row. It would be a special piece of history that would make winning it all the sweeter.
What would YOU say?
I think we can win both… IF there are no further injuries!
FINALLY, our best central defence duo is back ….VDS is still solid….we are defending well in the midfield and Rooney is on fire. Also, Park, Nani and Valencia are playing well… I just hope Berbatov continues to progress and bring more goals.
I know no one has ever retained the Champions League but Barca still look pretty scary to me!
We just haven’t been entirely convincing in the Champions League this season. I know we won against AC Milan which was a brilliant result at their place but I have watched the match a couple of times since and quite how they weren’t 3-0 up at half time is beyond me!
Having said that, there have been seasons in the past where we have blown everyone away during the group stages and sailed through the knockout round before coming to a grinding halt in the quarter or semi finals (usually on away goals).
If we’re going to do it the other way round this year then that would be good!
league champions this year is likely to bring Barca with you back in finnal … but I am sure that Barca would be a champion …. although Barca not a dream my team