English League Cup final/Manchester Utd v Wigan Ath: Alex Ferguson tried so hard to talk up the English League Cup yesterday it began to seem a trick of the imagination that his treatment of the competition once prompted a British MP to complain about Manchester United in the House of Commons.
Ferguson's regard for English soccer's third piece of silverware could accurately be summed up by Roy Keane going from October 1996 to January 2004 without playing a single tie at Old Trafford. The League Cup? It was an afterthought, a consolation prize cluttering up an already congested fixture list.
These days, of course, Ferguson cannot afford to be so choosy. Twelve points behind Chelsea in the Premiership, out of the FA Cup and eliminated from the Champions League before most people had finished their Christmas shopping, tomorrow's final with Wigan Athletic represents United's last chance of silverware this season and the only remaining opportunity for Ferguson to remind the Glazer family that he has not totally lost the habit of accumulating trophies.
It is a cold wall upon which Ferguson's back is pressed right now. Shrove Tuesday is not even upon us, yet his first season under the Glazers' ownership has effectively come down to one match in a competition that under its previous guise as the Worthington Cup was derided at Old Trafford as the Worthless Cup.
With his position being debated on radio phone-ins and website chatrooms, Ferguson could hardly be blamed for trying to make the League Cup sound more attractive than it really is, but, deep down, he must also be acutely aware that the vast majority of United followers will not agree that by beating Wigan tomorrow, "you have to take that as a successful season".
Edwin van der Sar said completely the opposite this week and the Glazers are entitled to wonder why there has been a downscaling of priorities. Ferguson, usually so bullish, has struck a downbeat tone at times this season.
His sympathisers would say he is simply being realistic, but there is a marked difference from recent years when he has declared an all-out assault on establishing United as the best team in Europe.
"We had a great spell in the '90s, a phenomenal spell, but from the moment we won the European Cup (in 1999) there has been a period of catch-up from the other clubs," he said.
"We face much stiffer competition now and it's not easy winning trophies. There are only four available each year, so winning one is good, I tell you. No matter what trophy it is, you've got to take it, because there are plenty of teams who won't win anything. Not world-renowned clubs like Manchester United, maybe, but still big, big teams with great histories."
Ferguson did not appreciate being reminded of the days when United would go out over two legs to York City or the fact that, having lost the 2003 final against Liverpool, he declared that the competition would be used in the future as "something for the kids".
Last season he was true to his word, even when Arsenal came to Old Trafford in the quarter-finals. This season his position has radically altered, with strong teams deployed in every tie apart from the third-round encounter with Barnet. His explanation, however, poses more questions than it answered.
"The people organising the League Cup have had a rethink," he stated, pointing out that clubs who have qualified for the Champions League are not involved until the third round. "The format has changed for those clubs in Europe. They come in later now and when you get the chance to progress quickly to the semi-final or final you don't want to waste that opportunity."
All quite plausible were it true, but the format actually changed nine years ago. United have not played a second-round fixture in the League Cup since 1995. A far more realistic explanation is that Ferguson, with new owners to impress, quickly cottoned on to the fact that United are no longer in a position to treat the League Cup as a nuisance.
Gary Neville, club captain, shares this realisation about the value of this competition. "The fact is we have an opportunity to win a trophy and we shouldn't take that lightly," he said. "There will always be people who are looking to be sarcastic and some seem to be looking upon this game from a negative point of view rather than the positive view, namely that Manchester United have reached another final.
"Winning won't take away the disappointment of going out of the Champions League and the FA Cup, but the boss always says we set out at the start of a season to win a trophy and there are only four to be won."
Ferguson was quick to point out that "the whole country" would be supporting Wigan, although there have been sackloads of cards and letters for Alan Smith. The response has clearly touched the United manager, who reported that the 25-year-old midfielder was making good progress after having further surgery on his broken leg and dislocated ankle on Thursday and should be back "within six or seven months".
Rio Ferdinand has been passed fit to play for United in Cardiff. The England defender missed the FA Cup defeat at Liverpool last weekend with a hamstring injury, but after intensive treatment earlier this week he is now expected to take his place in defence. John O'Shea is also available after recovering from fractured ribs.
Wigan striker Jason Roberts is certain to return after a three-match suspension. Centre back Stephane Henchoz (knee) trained yesterday. Reto Ziegler, a fit-again Lee McCulloch, and David Thompson are vying for the left-wing role. Ferguson said the players would dedicate a victory tomorrow to Smith - although he knows it is not a foregone conclusion.
... Guardian Service
