Читать книгу Glory, Glory Man Utd - Harry Harris - Страница 10

Sitting in the Sky studios commenting on Manchester Unitedʼs victory parade and the second Fergie Farewell, it struck me that, just like his favourite crooner Frank Sinatra, would we ever see a Sir Alex comeback? My view to the manager that enjoyed a melody of songs including ʼMy Wayʼ at his final game at Old Trafford is that he wonʼt be able to sit in the stands for too long watching before he gets itchy feet.

As he prepared for his third farewell with the final game of his managerial tenure at West Bromwich Albion, there was a suspicion that Sir Alex wonʼt be able to keep his hands out of the fun and excitement of recruiting players as he, for so long, manipulated the transfer market to such devastating effect with his contacts, knowledge and personal charisma which was a lure for many players to join United.

Sir Alex had seen plenty of victory parades in his time, but never one like this. When handed the microphone on the open top bus before it departed Old Trafford, the emotion of the day before came flooding back.

I felt it was indicative of his inner self that he wore that emblem of a football manager, a thick padded puffer jacket emblazoned with the United crest and his initials. My point is that he has yet to get the ʼcoachʼ mode from his psyche, perhaps understandable as he will be in the dugout for one final time.

As one might have anticipated, the United bus was decked out as a Thank You to Sir Alex, but shortly after the joyful victory parade with around 150,000 in the streets of Manchester, the taxi arrived for Roberto Mancini. It was a vastly different goodbye for Sir Alex to the one afforded the City manager, who lost the Premiership crown to United.

United supporters in party mood gathered at Old Trafford as the open – top bus tour got under way, and the parade travelled towards the city centre and arrived at Albert Square, where the bus was greeted by more fans. Many who had turned up early to secure a good vantage point suffered a down pour and thunder and lightning, but as current and former players arrived for the parade, sunshine broke through. With 20,000 fans packed into Sir Matt Busby Way, roads were closed prior to departure.

Speaking from the bus, Sir Alex thanked fans for their support over the years, telling them that his farewell match at Old Trafford the day before had been “a day I will never forget – it was wonderful”. He added, “It was something all my family enjoyed and the grandkids will never forget it.”

Talking of the phenomenal turnout for his retirement party, the manager added, “I thought that ʼ99 could not be beaten but youʼve beaten it today. Thank you for the fantastic support. I hope weʼre here to win this many times again. You always think about it [whether you are doing the right thing]. But I think it is the right time. I really do. We have a young squad, with a lot of good young players, who are going to get better. The big test is to win it three times in a row. I hope the boys can do it.” As I pointed out on Sky...”no pressure then”, on successor David Moyes.

The bus left the stadium via Sir Matt Busby Way, with fans lining every part of the route from the stadium through the suburbs to Deansgate and finally Albert Square. Vantage points as precarious as scaffolding and one storey shop fronts were taken over and police refused entry to any more fans after the streets near Manchester imposing town hall filled to capacity. Some supporters let off red flares, several climbed lamp posts for a better view of the bus, others leaned from windows and stood on rooftops. Health and Safety officers must have been having kittens.

Once they got on stage the players were in a typically celebratory mood. Ashley Young ditched the crutches he was using to nurse an ankle injury that ended his season and Paul Scholes was coerced onto centre stage for a rare interview. The ginger haired midfielder, hailed as the best English footballer of his generation by opponents and colleagues alike, said “It [winning the league] means everything. We set out each year to try and win the league and most of the years we do it. It is great to see this turnout and Iʼm so proud to play for this club.” Jonny Evans was asked by MUTV interviewer Helen McConnell, who also happens to be his fiancee, whether he was going to have a good summer. “Yes,” Evans replied. “I am getting married, to you Helen.”

For many of the United stars it was business as usual being involved with celebration parades. But this was a first for Robin van Persie. He was clearly enjoying his first piece of silverware as he said, “Itʼs incredible. It is even nicer than I expected – there are so many people. It [his winners medal] didnʼt leave my neck since yesterday. It is a heavy trophy but it is great to win it. This is for the players, fans, staff, every single one here. It has made so many people happy and Iʼm very pleased to see that.”

Michael Carrick added, “Iʼve been getting a bit carried away. Iʼve nearly fallen off three times. This turnout is just amazing, the whole week has been special. Celebrating winning the league but with Scholesy and the manager retiring it is a fitting send off. I never thought we would get anything like this. I have been singing quite a bit lately – you can probably tell by my voice.”

So was Wayne Rooney still going? As I suggested on Sky, he had few options anyway. Chelsea? No, as United were unlikely to sell to a Premier League rival, after all they saw what happened to Arsenal after they sold Robin van Persie to them! Paris St. Germain? Can you really see Rooney abroad? I donʼt think so. Not for long, anyway. But anything is possible as Sir Alex often said. Yet, Rooney praised Sir Alex as a ʼfantastic managerʼ despite receiving a mixed reception when he boarded the open – top bus. Speaking to MUTV, he said: “It is a fitting tribute to the manager after so long and so much success. As much as it is for the team, itʼs for the manager, for himself, what he has achieved and what he has done to this football club. He deserves everything he has got. He has been brilliant for us all. He is a great manager, he is successful and he is a winner. To do it for so long is incredible, he is a fantastic manager.”

“Manchester United have a bright future,” Rio Ferdinand told MUTV. “The manager has left the club in great health and we are looking forward. We have a great number of good young players who are eager to win things and be successful and work hard. That is what the manager has instilled in these players. The work ethic has to continue if we are going to be successful. I would like to be part of that.” Rio had tweeted pictures of him and his team – mates in the pub in the early afternoon prior to the parade. Rio has now won as many championships as Kenny Dalglish, “I dreamt of getting one when I turned up here. I remember looking at Ryan and the others when I arrived. At that stage they had five, six or seven. I just wanted one. I thought I would be happy with that. But once you get it, you want another. You continue striving to succeed, to achieve things and win trophies. To get six is unbelievable. But that is the main thing at this club, you want to be successful.”

As for Sir Alex, Rio commented, “There have been a couple of emotional moments. The managerʼs announcement was like a bolt out of the blue. No one was expecting it. It disappointed a lot of us but I understand the managerʼs reasons. He has had a great stint and an unbelievably successful period. He instilled great qualities in the club and we must carry that on.”

Ryan Giggs felt the reception topped the one in 1999: ʼThanks for coming out. I thought Iʼd never see anything like the treble again but this beats it. It is just brilliant. It gives us a chance to share with the fans a great achievement this season. It is an amazing atmosphere.” As for Sir Alex, he added, Giggs said: “It has been tough, especially for the players who have known him for a long time. We are delighted that we were able to end on a high and win the league in his last season.”