The Championship Manger Story
We beat Valencia both home and then away in the Champions League quarter final. The scores being 1-0 and 2-0 respectively. An Ole Gunnar Solskjaer goal gave us the 1-0 win over Blackburn at OT, which was followed up by a poor away draw with Leeds, 1-1 the score.
We came back from 1-0 down at home to Boro to win 2-1, thanks to Silvestre and
a late winner from Van Nistelrooy on 88 minutes. The League Cup Final beckoned
and we were to meet bogey team Liverpool, who I had trouble beating all season.
I fielded the strongest team I could, due to the injury of Giggs and Ronaldo.
We played well, far better than Liverpool, who only managed a single shot on
goal, which Roy Carroll was more than able for. The match dragged on and on
74 minutes, Van Nistelrooy got injured, and was replaced by youngster Forlan.
The match ended up going to penalties as MOM Dudek saved everything we threw
at him. Every penalty was scored apart from one… Forlan's. I felt sorry
for the lad, but I'd expected as much from him. He cried when he missed that
penalty, because Hyypia was next and he never misses a penalty. I should not
have let a blonde player hit a penalty.
Never mind, time to move on, especially with Barca in the Champions League semi
Finals coming up. Our team was totally wasted and I was forced to field a very
weak side for the semi Final. Our luck was in though, as we were awarded a penalty
on 9 minutes after Bonano brought down Scholes in the area. Scholes nestled
in the penalty, as Van Nistelrooy was injured and therefore could not play.
Ryan Giggs scored a freak goal straight from a corner kick to put us two nil
up. Luis Enrique pulled one back for the visitors on 30 minutes with a low drive,
but Diego Forlan pounced on a loose ball on the stroke of half time to restore
our two goal lead and make the score 3-1. I brought young Darren Fletcher and
Defoe on early in the second half to rest Scholes and Solskjaer. This helped
as Forlan scored another on 73 minutes to make it 4-1, but Dani grabbed a consolation
for Barca as the Catalan giants were beaten 4-2.
Remember the recent League Cup Final defeat by Liverpool? Well, we got our sweet
revenge in the FA Cup Semi Final, outplaying them for ninety minutes and scoring
twice at the very end of the match (Giggs 89, Ronaldo 90). A nice 2-0 win. Right
after that we faced the Scousers again, this time in the league at Old Trafford.
Another 2-0 win came our way, thanks to Ronaldo and Forlan. Following that we
played away to Man City, and if we won here we would be Premiership Champions.
I drooled at the thought of lifting the title at Maine Road. We played well,
forcing old David Seamen to pull off a string of fine saves, and the match ended
in a 1-1 draw.
Back to the champions league, and the second leg of the semi-final. We had the
advantage after the 4-2 win. Giggs, Forlan and Defoe all scored this time out,
whilst Roy Carroll played well to keep Barca out. 7-2 the aggregate score, and
we were in the semi-finals.
Ruud Van Nistelrooy was named Players Player of the Year Award, and Vieira and
Silvestre came second and third. Julio Arca, who moved to Villa at the start
of the season, claimed the Players young player of the year award, runners up
being Scott Parker and Blackburn new signing, David Mendes Da Silva.
As if reaching the final of the Champions League wasn't good enough, we won
the League at St. Andrew's against (obviously) Birmingham. Diego Forlan, Ryan
Giggs and Rio Ferdinand all scored in a three nil win.
"Fabulous, absolutely fucking great!" I shouted to the subs as the
match ended. We were champions, and it felt fantastic. Of course, we had to
wait until the last day of the season before we could have our trophy. I couldn't
wait. After beating Barca in the champions league semi, we were in the Final,
and were set to play Roma, again.
Anyway, I decided that I would field all reserves in the remaining Premiership
matches (there were 5 left). I'll round these matches up for you…
Old Trafford v Sunderland: 2-0 (Van Nistelrooy, Scholes)
The Valley v Charlton: 3-1 (Ronaldo (2), Forlan)
Old Trafford v Fulham: 3-2 (Ronaldo, Adu)
White Hart Lane v Tottenham: 2-3 (Fletcher, Ronaldo)
Old Trafford v West Brom: 1-1 (Mexes)
Anyway, now onto the stuff you all want to hear about, how we got on in the
Champions League and FA Cup Final.
FA CUP FINAL v ARSENAL:
We played the FA Cup Final in front of a packed Millennium Stadium against Arsenal
on a high because we had qualified for the Champions League Final and we were
league champions. Anyway, the match started off pretty evenly, with both sides
attacking the opposition goal. Things took a drastic turn when Henry popped
up to score after just nine minutes. We were one nil down and needed goals.
The fact that our top scorer Ruud Van Nistelrooy went off injured right after
Henry scored was going to make this hard for us. Forlan replaced the Dutchman.
The match went on in nail-biting, end to end fashion, and our perseverance paid
off when sub Forlan half volleyed in a knock down from Solskjaer. It was now
one all and game on. Anyway, we hammered the Arsenal goals until half time,
Lehmann saving a Ronaldo free kick and many more shots. At half time I told
Giggs to try and repeat his goal against them in the semi final of the same
competition in the 98/99 season. He took heed, and on 47 minutes, he ran up
the pitch, took the piss out of Ashley Cole, and hit it high and hard towards
goal. 2-1! Arsenal tried the rest of the match to get another goal, but our
defence played a blinder and kept them out. We now had the Premiership and FA
Cup Double. But could we carry on our success in Europe?
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL v ROMA:
Well, this was it, the biggest game of the season, and I told the players we
had to win if we were to live up to the tag of best team in the world. Anyway,
here is how we got on…
As soon as the match started we were on the attack, only to see Panucci intercept
Scholes' pass to Solskjaer. Panucci flicked the ball out right to Cafu, who
handled it. A free kick was awarded and Giggs stepped up to send it goal-wards.
1-0 after two minutes and I was over the moon. Roma then went on the offensive,
but could not manage to get their shots on target. On 31 minutes we attacked
and Solskjaer saw his header saved by Pelizzoli, but Ronaldo was on hand to
volley in the rebound. 2-0! Our lead increased three minutes later when Emerson
floored Van Nistelrooy. Giggs stepped up to take the free kick and scored again!
3-0! This was fantastic. The match was pretty much all Roma apart from a few
Ronaldo chances. On 62 minutes Giggs was clattered by Castellini, and when Giggs
stepped up to take the resulting free kick, surprise surprise, he scored. A
hat trick of free kicks for Giggs, and a 4-0 win for Manchester United. Giggs
collected the match ball.
I arranged a special parade in the stadium of all three trophies. The players
were clearly very proud of their achievements and smiles went from ear to ear.
The stadium was filled to capacity with fans (none of which were from London,
by the way!). I got up onto the podium to address the fans…
"Well, it is hard to believe that this time last year I was sitting at
home playing computer games. I never expected to be called up to manage the
greatest club there is, Manchester Untied (roar from crowd). I would like to
thank you all for filling this stadium every home match and providing the atmosphere
we have. Next season I plan to have songs played after we score, and ask you
to all sing along. We will make this place an absolute fortress. Anyway, I know
you all want to see the players and, ahem, the trophies (another rapturous applause),
so let me introduce you all to them…"
With that the players ran onto the pitch with the trophies and champagne. The
stadium was filled with the chants of "UNITED, UNITED" and I was never
so proud in all my life.