United eye the treble as rivals begin to clutch at straws

Manchester United head into the first leg of this evening’s Champions League quarter final against Chelsea as underdogs according to the bookmakers, a strange position to be in given they sit eleven points clear of the west London club at the top of the league table. With less than two months of the season remaining, they remain in the hunt for three of the four trophies on offer to them at the start of the campaign and they might just have the resolve and the momentum to pull off a famous treble, argues Colin Colgan.

Over the course of the season, many in the media have been moved to point out that this is far from a ‘classic’ United season. Drawing comparisons to the 1999 treble winning side, the argument goes that there is simply not enough class or depth to deliver the riches of Sir Alex Ferguson’s most dominant sides, one which has grown louder as the United manager has had to dig deeper into his personnel reserves following a series of injuries and suspensions to key players. However, this criticism may have served only to embolden this United team.

The recent FA charges against Sir Alex Ferguson and Wayne Rooney will have added to a growing bunker mentality at Old Trafford and, rather ominously for their opponents, United head into the final furlong of the season with a point to prove. It’s a case of them versus the world, and you get the impression that Ferguson and troops have all the motivation they need to secure some silverware and stick two fingers up to all their doubters. However, securing victory on three different fronts is a tall order: do they have it in them to do it?

Much will depend on the ability of their more inexperienced players to stand up to the pressure of the occasion. Chris Smalling and Javier Hernandez have had a far larger part to play in United’s season than Ferguson would have envisaged back in May. They have proved more than up to the challenge so far, although we will likely learn much more about how far they have come in the next few weeks than we have in the season so far.  Ferguson’s faith appears justified, although he will know that one slip or one missed opportunity in front of goal could prove costly.

The Scot will also be demanding better performances from some of the more experienced heads in his squad. Michael Carrick has been singled out for criticism in the press on a number of different occasions, and it is difficult to argue that the £18 million midfielder hasn’t looked well short of his best form. Ferguson will also demand some improved consistency from the likes of Dimitar Berbatov and Anderson. Both can be ruthlessly effective when at their best, but far too often have gone missing when United have needed some attacking impetus.

However, Ferguson will be encouraged by the increasingly desperate messages emanating from the opposition camps. Robin Van Persie yesterday drew attention to the fact that United may be tiring when they visit the Emirates on 1^st May as a result of their busy schedule. Whilst fatigue may play an element, so will confidence, something Arsenal are currently short of having failed to record a league win since 23^rd February whilst being dumped out of three competitions in the interim as their end of season malaise once again takes hold.

Van Persie’s comments were shortly followed by Petr Cech’s assertion that United ‘didn’t really win’ the 2008 Champions League final in Moscow, the medals ending up round the necks of the men in red courtesy of ‘more luck in the shootout’. Chelsea have outspent United by £50 million since that game but have come no closer to lifting the trophy coveted most by Roman Abramovich, and you have to wonder how much that John Terry penalty miss still hangs over them. It should certainly give Manchester United a psychological edge in this season’s tie.

Nemanja Vidic has stated he believes that Chelsea ‘have the edge’ over United in the quarter final clash, although Carlo Ancelotti and his side are unlikely to get drawn into such mind games. United will arrive at Stamford Bridge in bullish mood off the back of their comeback victory at Upton Park on Saturday, and whilst the Blues are likely to provide a stern test, securing an away goal would most likely make Ferguson’s men favourite to progress. With the Premier League theirs to lose and the FA Cup just two wins away, the treble remains well within their grasp.