Manchester United -0 Charlton Athletic -0: Amid the debris of Manchester United's season their first scoreless draw in the Premiership in more than a century of games felt far removed from a show of defiance. Yet, unmistakeably, Old Trafford witnessed a statement of intent on Saturday, the grudging acceptance of third place in the Premiership and the prospect of beginning their next campaign with a Champions League pre-qualifier in one of the continent's more unpronounceable outposts countered by a stubborn desire to look forward with optimism.
It was a prosaic way to bring an unfulfilled season spluttering to a close. Yet this was not the wake that had been anticipated. David Beckham's new £92,000-a-week contract was announced before kick-off. United's supporters refused to allow a sombre mood and, after the final whistle, the players were accompanied by their children on a lap of honour.
At roughly the same time that Tony Adams was lifting the Premiership trophy at Highbury, Ferguson was standing in the middle of the pitch with a microphone to address an audience that has witnessed six league defeats here for the first time since 1978. "Next year," he vowed, "we will have players who fight for you and bring back the rewards."
He spent £56 million this season and a similar amount will be available over the summer. Talks with Laurent Blanc to persuade him to extend his stay a second season are at an advanced stage, but that has not stopped Ferguson drawing up a shortlist of international defenders, incorporating Lilian Thuram of Juventus, Bixente Lizarazu of Bayern Munich, Kevin Hofland of PSV Eindhoven and Lazio's Alessandro Nesta.
As well as Denis Irwin taking his final, emotive bow, Ferguson also revealed that Ronny Johnsen and Raimond van der Gouw are to leave the club, while it is safe to assume Dwight Yorke, Quinton Fortune and Ronnie Wallwork will join them.
Ferguson was particularly sad to see Irwin go after 12 years and 527 appearances. "Although he wasn't 100 per cent fit we wanted him to play in his last game as captain of Manchester United as a mark of respect of the club to him," he said. "What a fantastic player, what a fantastic person and what a fantastic buy."
Charlton would doubtless have darkened Old Trafford's mood if they had accepted any of three chances before the interval, while Ferguson's players seldom threatened Dean Kiely's goal .
Manchester Utd: Barthez (Van Der Gouw 77), Phil Neville, Blanc, Brown, Irwin (O'Shea 68), Stewart (Giggs 59), Keane, Scholes, Fortune, Solskjaer, Forlan. Subs Not Used: Wallwork, Lynch. Booked: Irwin, Phil Neville.
Charlton: Kiely, Young, Costa, Rufus, Powell, Bart-Williams, Parker, Stuart (Jensen 76), Konchesky (Johansson 82), Euell, Lisbie (Svensson 90). Subs Not Used: Ilic, Fortune.
Referee: G Poll (Tring).
