Manchester Unitedai??i??s Corner: 30th April – The Moment Of Truth Awaits At The Etihad

By Nipun Malhotra
13 years Ago

City face United on Monday in the biggest of Manchester derbies in a long, long time. This one may decide the fate of the title race. But while City have no option but to attack, United’s uncertainty may cause them a lot of harm.

The title decider, the mother of all derbies and the duel that neutrals would have wanted but one, which over a couple of weeks ago, looked inconsequential has finally re-emerged at the forefront with everything to play for. The red half of Manchester have often famously taunted their neighbors with chants of ai???Blue moon you started singing too soonai???.

However, the recent unexpected turn of events could come back to bite them on their backsides as Fergieai??i??s ruthless Red Express seems to be losing steam at just the wrong moment. The ever so secure eight point cushion is long gone; whatai??i??s left is a slender three point advantage which could be wiped off this Monday night along with the premature grins off the red half’s faces. All that talk of winning mind games and verbal jibes ends here; this one must be won on the pitch and in the enemyai??i??s backyard.

For City, the winds of momentum are swaying in their favor galvanized by their hero, turned villain, turned hero again,Ai??Carlos Tevez. Mancini, for once, doesnai??i??t have to think about playing it cagey and safe with just three games to go and a three-point deficit to make up. The Citizens simply will have to go for it. With Eastlandai??i??s as the backdrop and the blues buoyed by the Poznan-crazyAi??partisan home support, Manciniai??i??s men do hold most of the aces. Now, the Italian must not revert to his intrinsic defensive attitude and go for the proverbial coup de grace.

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Ferguson and Man United however could very well be tentative in their approach and ergo crowded with cobwebs of uncertainty. A victory almost guarantees the title as a six-point gap with two games to go is as insurmountable as it gets. Nonetheless, at this juncture of the campaign, a draw and status quo wouldnai??i??t be a bad result for Fergieai??i??s men and this dilemma whether to stick or twist would be agonizing for the manager and the players alike.

The managerai??i??s game plan will once again be brought in the forefront by his team selections which always raise a few eyebrows. Will United park the bus, something not really ingrained in their DNA, and settle for the will-do-for-now draw or will Sir Alex go for the jugular in a bid to kill off Cityai??i??s title hopes once and for all?

On the team news and selection front, Michael Carrick, Antonio Valencia & Wayne Rooney virtually pick themselves and Scholesai??i?? importance to the United cause cannot be stated in mere words. Ryan Giggs has been well rested in recent weeks and his big game experience could be handy.

Fergie has usually relied upon his old guard for the bigger occasions so donai??i??t be surprised if you see the Welshman lining up in a three-man central midfield or even the left wing. Naniai??i??s recent form has been impressive and even Welbeck has found his mojo once again, but come derby day one of the two might just have to make way for experience.

Wayne Rooney, once again, will be in the thick of it as Unitedai??i??s talisman would be looked upon to guide his side through seemingly troubled shores. Itai??i??s been a rather eventful season for Wazza with him never quite touching levels of brilliance United fans would want their leading man to conquer. Yet, Rooney stands on the brink of his best goal scoring return and that too, after playing games in uncustomary central midfield, left wing and behind the central striker in the traditional number ten role. With him mountaineering up Unitedai??i??s all time scoring charts, another goal scoring return would do nicely for the Red Devils.

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United over the years have enjoyed great dominance over their rivals and hitherto dormant neighbors. Yet, in those years of supremacy, Man City have often spoiled their party on the really grand occasions.

Be it the famous derby day defeat at Old Trafford on that fateful evening of year 1974 that condemned United to relegation via Dennis Lawai??i??s infamous back heel or another humbling at the Theatre of Dreams on an emotionally charged afternoon celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Munich air crash, City have proven capable of rising to the occasion. The last derby at the COMS, when City cult hero Shaun Goater shamed Gary Neville and the likes, also comes to mind. So does last yearai??i??s F.A. Cup semi-final win at Wembley.

In recent times, every Manchester derby has been billed as the biggest one yet and not that the games have disappointed. Nevertheless, one can be forgiven this time for calling this titanic duel as colossus and the ever so clichAi??d ai???the game of the seasonai???. The enormity of the occasion cannot be downplayed, thereai??i??s more to this game than ever before. An old empire clamoring to hold on to its supremacy as the new dawn waits to break free.

The revolution in the blue half of the City and the sudden rise to the zenith of the English game has been inevitable for a while now. The only question remains how long before the Reds relinquish their throne?Ai??Noise levels have amplified from the City end and this time not without reason.

For years, United have held fort during the ever so significant ai???squeaky bum timeai???, but can they do it one more time? If they do, this title will go down as one of the most significant emerald pearls in Unitedai??i??s crown. On the other hand, failing to do so will be a bitter pill to swallow.

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Categories: COVER STORY, English Premier League, Manchester United
Tags: Manchester United Premier league

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