SOCCER:A SIDE that reach the heights have a clear view of all that lies so pleasingly before them. Manchester United's defeat of Chelsea in each leg of their Champions League quarter-final confirmed this is a team glowing with authority as well as talent.
The re-emergence is a small surprise since last season was marked by only the League Cup. The trophy was taken with victory over Aston Villa and the winner, in late February, was Wayne Rooney’s 27th goal for the club in that campaign.
The forward may have rallied of late, but no one in the crowd counts on such abundance any longer and, more importantly, United themselves have not behaved as if they rely purely on him.
Javier Hernandez has adapted to English football at a startling rate.
With Dimitar Berbatov also prolific when picked, there is a breadth to United’s work that must make them suppose they can land a range of prizes.
Such expectations will be toned down by manager Alex Ferguson exactly because they are feasible. A squad could find it all too easy to be mesmerised by its own hopes. The dangers ought to be recognised.
Much as Chris Smalling has impressed in his first campaign with the club, it is still critical that the centrebacks Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic stay fit.
By the same token, those of us who were originally disbelieving at the sight of Michael Carrick as the midfield kingpin now appreciate that the onus is on him to maintain such influence.
United are pondering a second treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup to complement the one secured a dozen years ago.
There is also a counterbalancing attitude towards the longer term. Even as the side have begun to surge, comment has continued about the need for new and costly talent to arrive in the summer. It is a topic that reportedly made Rooney himself anxious when he sought investment in the squad as well as a large pay rise on his own behalf.
Ferguson’s reconstruction has, all the same, been in progress for a while.
No one calls this squad the best he has had but it is remarkably extensive. Nani has most likely been the club’s best performer overall in this campaign, but he featured only as a substitute at Stamford Bridge, amid suggestions that the Champions League has been an area of underachievement for the winger.
The fact Ferguson can afford to be so demanding underlines the scope he has to sideline those who awaken even small reservations in him. Everything could still go wrong, but the side have begun to show their insistent character.
While away results have been moderate by United’s standards, the recovery from 2-0 down to beat West Ham United at Upton Park underlined a rising desire in the team to impose their will even when events seem discouraging.
They are aided by the faltering of others. Ferguson can only be cheered when Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal are confounding doubters merely by being in the top four. United are yet to go to the Emirates, but even a loss could be absorbed since these opponents still have the sort of flaw that can see them record a goalless draw on their own ground against Blackburn Rovers.
All in all, United have cause to be optimistic when perusing the fixture list. There are some obviously demanding games. Chelsea will crave to do some harm when they come back to Old Trafford in the Premier League.
A match could go wrong anywhere, perhaps at Newcastle United on Tuesday, but the real doubt is whether anyone is equipped even to pretend they are pursuing United in earnest.
It is more likely to be the knock-out tournaments that make United heads ring. After a faintly dull campaign, Manchester City must at least ache to knock out Ferguson’s men in the FA Cup semi-final, particularly since it is the one result that may vindicate Roberto Mancini’s costly tenure at Eastlands.
The Champions League presents a more overt menace. Schalke can scarcely be discounted after the trouncing of Inter Milan at the San Siro.
Bundesliga representatives have dismayed United before, with Bayern Munich doing so as recently as last season. This time around, though, the United players almost look as if they are getting fresher.
Ferguson has begun to speak as if a range of injuries has been a boon since a few figures, including Antonio Valencia, act as if they are just coming out of pre-season.
Should Ferguson feel any disquiet about the stretch that lies ahead it must concern the Champions League. He will surely convince himself that the side merely slipped below the expected standard when beaten with no fuss at all by Barcelona in the 2009 final. An opportunity to rewrite that tale could be presented when the trophy is fought for at Wembley, depending on how Pep Guardiola’s line-up fares against the Real Madrid of Jose Mourinho in the last four.
That would remain the most exacting test for United, yet the realistic prospect of being part of such an occasion underlines the resurgence that is still growing in vigour.
* Guardian Service
