Kop strike was key - Phelan | Manchester Evening News

Kop strike was key - Phelan

March 15, 2007

Mike Phelan

UNITED coach Mike Phelan reckons John O'Shea's late match-winner against Liverpool could prove a pivotal point in the title race.

Chelsea kept up the pressure on the Reds with a 1-0 victory over City on Wednesday night, but Phelan is confident the win at Anfield has instilled great belief in Sir Alex Ferguson's players.

“It was a terrific moment when the ball went in,” Phelan told Manchester United Radio.

“I think a lot of the players finally understood what it means to be so close and to win a game of such magnitude. I think it will stand us in good stead for the rest of the season.

“We probably would have been happy with a draw but it’s not in the nature of this club to give up,” said Phelan. “Silencing the Kop is an unusual thing to happen but it was nice."

United hold a six point lead over Chelsea with both having played 29 games.

What do you think has been the key factor in United's season so far? Have your say.

| Submit Comments | Comments (6) |

Showing comments 1 to 6 and replies | View All

Balders, Halifax (15/03/2007 at 12:32)

scoring more goals than other teams !!

Reds4Ever, West Yorkshire (15/03/2007 at 13:10)

Balders, sometimes they do ask stupid questions!

Gangs, bristol (15/03/2007 at 13:52)

Let me think Paul scholes

de Meester, netherlands (15/03/2007 at 16:42)

Hmmm!, let me think!
The return of cavalier (at times!) 4-4-2 and a strong defence. Takes me aback to '93-'96 period!
If only we had Incey and Robbo!
The Fulham AND scouser games!
Up The Reds

John the Red (16/03/2007 at 02:01)

The number of goals we have scored from midfield this season is the key factor. We have scored 33 from midfield compared with Chelsea 19, Arsenal 15 and Liverpool 15. Over 90% of league championships have been won by the side who scores the most goals from midfield areas. Take a look back over the years and you will see my point. When we won all our titles in the 90s it was Beckham, Giggs and Scholes who would weigh in with a significant amount of goals from midfield. Arsenal's success came when Ljungberg and Pires would often bag 20 goals a season between them. Chelsea's recent success has been largely influenced by the goals scored by Lampard and Robben. This season's events have gone to show that Van Nilstelrooy's one dimensional game was badly effecting other players in the team. Where have the critics of Van Nilstelrooy's sale gone by the way? Have they possibly come to the conclusion that Sir Alex Ferguson maybe might just know a bit more about football than them? I mean people don't get paid £5 million a year if they don't know what their doing, right? A little knowledge can be very dangerous.

bobbydazzler (16/03/2007 at 10:12)

John the red you are of course right that midfield does need to contribute with their share of the goals. As for your comments about rvn he scored 20 goals pre xmas playing in front of the worst midfield we have had in 20 seasons so dont think he did too badly. How many goals did df jos and alan smith score from our midfield last year???

()

Report

Manchester United