To be totally frank, the pain still lingers. In fact, I feel the same intense pain every time I think back on that night. There are 3 types of pain in this world. Pain, excruciating pain and the pain of watching Manchester United losing the League Title by the last kick of an 8 months long season, on goal difference. I am talking about the last one. Nothing in this world can make me forget that pain, and a mere mention of the name Sergio Aguero bring it back with all its intensity. But let me tell you, I don't want to forget it. That is what makes this title all the more sweeter, incredibly satisfying and amazingly spectacular. To think that One person's determination and collective dedication from 25 players can still defeat an investment of 1 billion by Sheikh Mansour is absolutely incredible and this is what makes Manchester United tick. The best part of this title win is that none of us have to sit through the launch of a book named "How to defend the Premier League Title" written by a Manchester City player.
League titles are never won on a solitary moment or game, instead it is almost always the culmination of an 8 months long slog. Even when City won it on goal difference last season, it was not because QPR showed them an open goal after knowing that their place is safe but because they were the best team in the country for the season. There would still be moments through the course of the season which give the gut feeling about the eventual destination of the crown. This is an attempt to capture those moments which stood out during the season and made sure that the predicted rise of the blue moon went up in smoke.
Number 20: Perhaps the most important moment in the title race happened even before it actually began. United got what no one else in the country had, the Robin Van Persie signature. It still gives me goosebumps to think that RVP rejected a 300k per week salary from City to come to United. RVP unknowingly made himself available for the strongest possible candidate for the Mastercard punch line "Money can't buy you everything". It was a statement of intent from United after the way League title was lost in the last season. Above all Sir Alex Ferguson decided that he doesn't want to see losing the title on goal difference in his life time. When RVP pulled that Number 20 jersey and announced "Let's do it" he meant every letter of that. While United got RVP, City were busy signing Maicon, Scot Sinclair, Jack Rodwell and Javi Garcia. Well, if the numbers were that important, pigs would be ruling the jungle over lions.
The blue smoke: What I remember most about that derby at Etihad is the amount of blue smoke around the stadium when RVP scored the winner deep into the injury time. It was as well that City supporters realized their crown is going up in smoke. The blue smoke, RVP's 'Eric Cantona' posture celebration and Rio Ferdinand with a blood soaked eye gave it an almost war like atmosphere at the end of it. And war it was. On that night in Manchester, a battle was won, a blow was delivered, the enemy was cornered but the war remained be conquered.
That snowy night: Before this match there were doubts that it would be postponed due to the extremely hostile climatic conditions, but eventually a 'go' signal was given. Watching it in TV, it looked like more of an expedition from Antarctic than a football match in London. Throughout that match, amidst the heavy snow fall, a 71 year old chap stood outside the dugout without a hat. At the end of it, Sir Alex Ferguson looked like he was just rescued from a snowfall avalanche in the Alps. Come the final whistle, a Clint Dempsey goal denied all 3 points for United, but Sir Alex Ferguson's desire to combat even the weather gods to land the 20th league title was there for everyone to see. (What still beats me is how Mike Phelan, with that glass like blad head and a pair of uncovered ears which are big enough to hold atleast a ton of snow, survived that night standing next to Sir Alex, without even a coat!)
Boxing day classic: It was a 7 goal thriller and United took lead in this match for the first time on the cusp injury time when Michael Carrick found time, space and imagination to deliver a perfect through ball for Hernandez to score. It was more relief than elation on everyone's face when Hernandez slid through the rain soaked pitch in celebration. United were particularly poor in this match, conceding 3 easy goals to a Newcastle side they annihilated 3-0 at St James Park. That we won even after playing piss poor for most of the match helped to build a growing feeling that finally the elements are on our side but I am sure improvements would have been demanded by Sir Alex, in no uncertain terms, particularly in defense at the end of the match.
The killing machine: And improvements duly arrived in time. In all probability it was a back handed compliment when Joe Hart spoke about the difficulty in keeping pace with United, calling them 'the Manchester United killing machine' because in reality it was anything but. But what was lacked in the name of beautiful football was made up with effort and efficiency. When RVP had a mid season dip, Rooney chipped in. Danny Welbeck put in some good shifts at right wing where Valencia was out of form for the whole of season. Giggs showed the reasons why he is still playing at the age of 39. De Gea made a transition from boy to man in goal. When everything failed, Hernandes found a hair's breadth of difference to beat the offside trap and score. And when the title was in sight, it inspired even Valencia to score for a change! A season which started by heavily depending on RVP to score goals ended with 20 different goal scorers. So much for a one man team.
Goal of the season: Such was the brilliance of the goal that it touched the Aston Villa half for the first time only inside their goal. From United's half, Rooney made a diagonal pass which was astonishingly met with the left foot of RVP. The run he made was a lesson in timing while the finish was exquisite. This was the icing on the cake on a night when United clinched their record breaking 20th league title.
Fergie the grand dad: There was a beautiful moment during the trophy presentation lap of honour at Old Trafford. In the middle of the ground Sir Alex was being mobbed by some of his grand children when he spotted the youngest child of the family. As any grand dad would do, he just leapt to get near her to hold and pamper her in his hand. The same way he has pampered all of us with moments, games and trophies enough to remember for a life time. It showed an entirely different side of the man we are so used to seeing every week on the touch line, and it probably provided the reason why he finally decided to call it a day. For the last 27 years he has dedicated every minute of his life and every ounce of his energy for this football club, with the support of his family. And finally it is the time to give it back to family and they deserve it. Later he would go on to reveal that he made his decision to quit after the death of his wife Cathy's sister, as she needs his presence and time, more than ever. At 71 years of age, he went out in his own terms, as a winner.
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