It was the most fitting of title-clinching matches – 90 minutes that encapsulated Manchester United’s campaign of triumph and trauma.
It was the story of nine months crammed into one match.
Just like much of the first half of the Premier League season the opening 45 minutes at Ewood Park were lacking in cohesion, it was nervy and the Reds were finding it a toil.
So much of the 2010 half of this term contained such agony and uncertainty.
There had been some highlight moments at Ewood like when Nani rose in the third minute but smashed his header against the bar.
Likewise, there had been standout matches earlier in the season too, the memorable sinking of Liverpool including Dimitar Berbatov’s overhead kick in front of the Stretford End to clinch it.
Then there was the sensational, Reds in fifth gear 7-1 demolition of Blackburn at Old Trafford when they gloriously swept Rovers aside.
If the trophy was to be secured in the same manner as the campaign had unfolded then the second half was going to be more torture and ultimate glory for United fans who’ve gone through the wringer this season.
The interval on Saturday was akin to New Year. A turning point when United dug in and started gathering points by sheer determination.
At Rovers they realised going home from this one on the coach without suits soaked in champagne and a record 19th title was not what was demanded in the lead up to the Champions League final.
It was all a bit like the Hawthorns on News Years day, Bloomfield Road in January and post back-to-back defeats against Chelsea and Liverpool in March.
It wasn’t going to plan and something had to be done.
The Reds rallied at West Brom to win, rallied at Blackpool to win and went on an undefeated run following the Stamford Bridge and Anfield setbacks.
You knew that this bunch of irrepressible players would squeeze every last ounce of drama from a season of theatre before getting what they wanted.
United fans know this season more than most about that inherent trait of making things hard and they probably expected there was another nail-biting chapter to be written.
They turned up with their 19 placards and banners but no doubt considered the distinct possibility they would have to bring them out next Sunday instead to signal the achievement.
But they also knew there was the probability there could still be a massive swing and United would dig deep and find the golden moment.
The tale of the 2010-11 campaign was being played out word for word at Ewood.
Crown
Even the key figures of the league campaign played a part in the goal that sealed the record-breaking crown.
The Reds had been struck somewhat dumb by the occasion at first.
Poor Tomasz Kuszczak, in goal for the rested Edwin Van der Sar, has played four league matches this season and United have won all four.
But the occasion seemed to affect the Pole and he was a hesitant bag of nerves. That permeated the rearguard. When Rovers piled it on in the 19th minute nobody could apply the Row Z boot on the ball as it pinged around and Brett Emerton smashed in the opener.
There were a few ashen faces around as the horror idea that United could still blow this title dawned on a few people.
But three of Sir Alex Ferguson’s most talked about characters this season then put their fingerprints on the decisive title-clinching moment.
After a scary moment when Martin Olsson struck the post with an effort that could have postponed the crowning, title king Ryan Giggs who has been a revelation as a midfield prompter provided the exquisite pass that opened things up for Javier Hernandez.
The Mexican has been United’s signing story of the campaign but on this occasion was probably not going to poach a typical goal from the position he was in. But his reputation alarmed Rovers keeper Paul Robinson and as the ball was nudged wide past him he careered into the striker.
It was a hard one to call but United got the nod and it gave Wayne Rooney with the opportunity for ultimate redemption.
How many of the United fans packed in the Darwen End would admit now to wanting to see the England striker on his bike last October when he wanted away from Old Trafford? How many believed he might well have been walking out at Wembley instead with Carlos Tevez and co?
Fortunately, Rooney’s ill-informed boat rocking didn’t derail the Reds and arguably galvanised them.
He was welcomed back and this was his moment to deliver something more tangible than an apology statement.
His penalty was struck with as much conviction as he’s constantly said since about his commitment to United – and it ensured a campaign was sealed as, ironically, Liverpool were toppled from their perch by a Scouser.
What is your verdict on the action? Have your say.
Blackburn 1 Manchester United 1: Stuart Mathieson's verdict
May 14, 2011
Comments
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Well, we did it but it was far too painful for me. Congratulations boy’s but you could have done it with a lot more class than that.
Another difficult away performance, thank heavens that was our last away game of the season. TK was very rusty without much game time; I don’t blame him for looking uncomfortable. Interesting to see how the team wobbled for a while with TK looking fragile, I hope the new No 1 keeper brings a bagful of confidence with him.
Congratulations to SAF and the team for the 19th title that we all wanted so much, like the Python blue parrot sketch, those mouthy scousers have been well and truly knocked off their perch without a chance of getting back on...
Reserve team next week then onwards to Wembley and more glory, I think we can beat Barcelona this time.... glory, glory...
TypeCampeones , Campeones , Ole, Ole, Ole !
I really hope we haven’t rained on City’s parade .
I’ve just had a terrible thought , please don’t let them lose to Stoke that would be to terrible to bear
NNNNNNNNNNNineteen ! My favourite number .
Although I have a funny feeling that this time next year Twenty might be my new favourite number .
Well done lads! And it has been proved that SAF is the greatest football manager the world has ever had!
Bring in Barca!
XIX
Now let's make sure no one ever catch us.
Awful game, but don't care today.
Fantastic pen ROONEY! Thank you! Congratulations!!
phew CHAMPIONS...........come on stoke
Not bad for a 'weak' United squad. I believe there's some cup competition today. Who's playing?
ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT !!
From 7-18 to 19-18 in under 20 years . . . .Beyond our wildest dreams but guess what ?? WE`VE ONLY GONE AND DONE IT !!!!!!!!!!
Many congratulations to all the boys for doing us proud once more .
This one took some time,all the up's and downs of the season makes us this much stronger for next year.I am glad Kitkat is leaving and Foster is no longer.Their mental make-up which you don't see when buying them,is not suited for manchester United.Congratulations to all the lads and the fans,who I enjoyed bonding with this season on MEN.
Well done lads but made hard work of it! Unfortunately it looks like Kit Kat's term at OT is over! United played some great football until his errors! I suppose (and you can't blame them) that nobody wanted to get themselves injured for the Barca match!
Terrific, just terrific achievement by Sir Alex and the team.
god almighty why cant united for 1 just win without give the fans a hearth attack. well done congratulations all. how ironic united win the title away from hope in a season why so much has been said about our away form. and this game also proves kuzchachk hasnt got what it takes to be uniteds number. good keeper but not a excellent keeper. that what united require.
we all now the blue will end up her soon or later. so good luck hope u get trashed haha even if u win ur 1st in a long time you will still be in our shadow.
got me thinking did ferghie loss to arsenal on purpose so we can win the leagues today just to rubb it in to the blue. any way time to get my stoke shirt on. come on stoke
Anyone still think Kuszczak is an option to replace VDS?
What a fantastic achievement from all connected with the club, to be the most successful domestic English side ever is a brilliant feeling if you're a red. So proud to be a United fan! Btw Come on STOKE CITY!!!!!!!!!
Never would I have believed in 1990 that Man Utd would become The Most Successful team in the English league with a record number of league titles. What an achievement by Sir Alex, you could see Sir Bobby looking so proud too.
A monumental day in history of English football. Let’s hope we go on to win 20, 21 and so forth.
I hope there is a soft landing for that Liver Bird!
And you want to be No. 1 keeper for us? I am just glad it didnt cause us to wait another week.
NINETEEN!!!!!!!!!!
On balance this title looks like the biggest achievement of all. We all questioned the quality & depth of the squad yet SAF has worked miracles with this group of players and encouraged a greater than expected return.
He is the greatest in the modwen game probably of all time.!
The nerves did spread through thr defence from a keeper in crisis. Why Sadburn di dnt throw the ball into the box more nobody knows
Now we know what VDS means to the team cos we lost our composure after Kusacks calamaties and we all said SAF had blundered by leaving VDS out this week rather than next week.
Would have liked to see Fletcher get some pitch time to improve match fitness
Never would I have believed in 1990 that Man Utd would become The Most Successful team in the English league with a record number of league titles. What an achievement by Sir Alex, you could see Sir Bobby looking so proud too.
A monumental day in history of English football. Let’s hope we go on to win 20, 21 and so forth.
I hope there is a soft landing for that Liver Bird!
Yessssssss
Come back scousers when you've won 19 haha
CHAMP19NS.
STILL GOT BIGGER FISH TO FRY !!!! WELL DONE YOU RED SHIRTED HERO'S
Big thanks to Rooney for keeping his bottle and blasting in a perfect penalty. What a difficult game though with Blackburn quite rightly defending in mass. There were times when United had almost 95% possession, but breaking down this kind of defence needs a lot of patience. It won't be like that at Wembley against Barcelona. The Spanish team might be brilliant, but I think we can hit them hard. Big thanks to Sir Alex and all the lads for number nineteen.
Done the hard way. We were pretty awful today. My theory is that KK is so bad that he terrifies our back four and his presence is a total liability. As the game wore on you could see our back four was getting more and more uncomfortable, and it wasn't due to heavy Blackburn pressure. Then it seemed to permeate through the whole team. If KK never plays another game for us it will be too soon. That apart, poor performances all over the pitch, a typical United PL away game for this seaso . Seemed like after the first 15 minutes we couldn't be arsed, again. Still, # 19 in the bank so that's great, but it was sure a tough season to go through. Will be interesting to see what Fergie does over the summer, changes and new faces are needed. Now, come on Stoke!
A deep breath.....
First, a huge thank you to Sir Alex, the players and the coaching staff. And of course, the unsung heroes at the club who might not contribute to what we do on the pitch, but do their bit to keep the standards high. Congratulations to all fellow reds as well. Since I'm in a good mood, I'll congratulate the moaners as well.
I must confess that a draw would have been a good result for me. I want Indian football to grow and while Venky's might not be the best owners around, they have given a lift to the game in India. With the Premier League's popularity increasing and with Indians investing in the game, maybe some day we will have an Indian team in the world cup. I hope to be alive to see it.
Not much to say about the game. A typical away performance; we did not play the best football. Kuszczak has just proved why he will never be a number one for the club. I like the fact that he acknowledged his mistake, but if a goalie is nervous, it transmits to the back four.
Now that we've won the league, I think it is proper to analyse the performance so far. I think this just shows how much the pundits really now. Everybody had us dropping out of the top 4; as if they knew better than Sir Alex.
So what can we say about this team? I've never been a fan of comparisons, so I'll desist from comparing this team to the past United teams, but one thing I think everybody has missed is that we've been on a rebuilding job ever since Ronaldo left. I think we're more of a team; not a collection of individuals. The great thing about this team is that the players complement each other: we have the mercurial talent, we have the experienced heads,we have the geniuses and we have the grafters. That's the thing about this team.
Football has changed now. And so, teams must change with the times. People are only realizing this right now. It's only now that people are realizing the true value of say, a Carrick or a Park. It's impossible to play with one system all the time. Only one team in the world does it and they get away with it because they have a once in a generation player.
I think we finally have the contours of the end product from this latest rebuilding exercise: a team which can adapt, a team which has a lot of spirit and a team which will never give up its philosophy of playing attacking football, even if it is done in a different way. We have some unrealized potential in the squad, and we're not even talking about some of the exacting talent from the youth team.
Another thing that is going around is this myth of this being a very weak league. Again, I think many people have not really understood the changes the football world is undergoing. The league now is really competitive. We will have 6 teams fighting for the league, 3 or 4 others who will be very competitive and the rest will not want to be far behind. This is no doubt the toughest league in the world.
It's simple. If we were such a poor team or if the league was so poor, we wouldn't be champions or preparing for a third Champions League final in 4 years.