Manchester United: Player Ratings from the EPL Decider against Chelsea

Yesterday I felt an unbelievable sense of pride welling inside me. It wasn’t just the fairly sizeable amount I stood to win on the game, or even the fact that my beloved Manchester United had all but secured their place as the most successful British club side of all time; I was proud because people had doubted us.

 Here was a team seemingly bereft of the spectacular flair players of Barcelona, unable to conform to the Man City school of spending £100 million a year, who had still won. Back in October such an eventuality seemed a distant impossibility as Chelsea trailblazed a spectacular path through the opening games, whilst United faltered, struggling to adapt to life in the post-Tevez and Ronaldo era.

“United are crap,” jeered the fan boys, “you’ll be lucky to make top four”, and at the time, they had a point. It is United’s never-say-die attitude and siege mentality though that sets them apart; they might not have the squad of City or Chelsea but a better team there is none. So, it was that the tide started to turn, after the lowest point to be a Manchester United fan in my recent recollection, as our star player handed in a transfer request, citing lack of quality and more depressingly ambition. The famous saying though “you have to hit rock bottom to get back up”, could have been written for Manchester United, we had suffered the worse and survived; Rooney was going nowhere, and the little pea jumped out of his pod to embellish his name across the hearts of United fans everywhere.

It was written, it was destiny. Once we got ahead, not once did I doubt the fact that we would stay there. So here we stand on the transient path to greatness, about to make the leap. One point from Blackburn away and Blackpool at home? Don’t make me laugh, we have won it already. Yet, the sweetest fact of all is that we had to live through the dark time to come up blinking into the ethereal Premiership light. We were tested, almost to the brink, but these players, this genius manager, this wonderful club, could not be broken. Looking back, in hindsight, I wouldn’t change it for the world because this season we saw the real Manchester United.

Player ratings:

Edwin Van Der Sar: 7

Infallible as ever, had no chance for the Lampard goal but was steady and pulled off a few crucial saves when called upon. Wasn’t spectacular, but Edwin did what Edwin does—provided a calm custody over the rear line and never looked like making mistakes. We really will miss you when you are gone big guy.

Fabio: 6 

Came in for the injured Patrice Evra, and to begin with, it appeared that the stage would overawe him. Recovered well though and was fairly solid in negating Chelsea’s right-wing play, before being replaced with Smalling.

Rio Ferdinand: 7

Good solid game from the captain elect. Coped well with the muscularity of Drogba, and then, whatever it is that Torres brings to the party. Was slightly overshadowed by Vidic, however. Organised the defensive line with all the maturity of the 32-year-old ex-England captain he is.

Nemanja Vidic: 8 

I remember doubting Vidic when he first came to United in the double transfer window deal with Evra. The Vidic that stands before us now is no longer that man, and against Chelsea, he was excellent. Shutting down the space for Drogba and Malouda, putting his foot in at the right time without lunging in; it was a performance of consummate maturity. And then, he scored a goal to top it all off. Would quite possibly have been MOM on another night.

John O’Shea: 6  

Showed, in glimpses, the reliability that Fergie draws from the Ulsterman in these big games. His 300th club appearance was, however, curtailed by injury only a minute into the second half. There will be more to come.

Antonio Valencia: 9 

Valencia was simply brilliant. A masterful performance in which he completely tore apart the “best left back in the world”was, in my opinion, Valencia’s greatest in a United shirt. He was an animal, tireless, resourceful but combining his physical prowess with the finesse and touch of a truly world class winger. It was something to behold. Has to be a nail-on for the Champions League final?

Michael Carrick: 6 

Pretty unspectacular performance from Carrick on the night, kept it simple when he needed to and didn’t make too many mistakes. Has established himself as key to Sir Alex’s plans and for good reason. Darren Fletcher will have a fight to reclaim his shirt.

Ji- Sung Park: 9 

I think it is splitting hairs when deciding who was better out of him and Valencia. Park was everywhere, like the Duracell bunny he literally never stopped. Yet, he was productive along with it, providing the assist for Hernandez and making constant forays into Chelsea territory. When the situation arose, though, he was back putting his body on the line for the team at the other end. He really is brilliant.

Ryan Giggs: 8   

As I watched Giggs smoke Branislav Ivanovic for dust I really had to wonder if the "I'm 37" is simply a façade for the reincarnated 25-year-old Giggs. He has still got it that’s for sure. Touch, vision, composure, movement, pace, passing. A complete performance.

 Wayne Rooney: 8 

 It really was a joy to watch Rooney. Admittedly he was outshone by both Park and Valencia, but the way in which Wayne was stroking the ball all over the pitch, pulling off the man, finding room and foraging into dangerous areas really did remind me of the Rooney of two years ago. Really unlucky with a great drive in the first half that Cech tipped round the post.

  Javier Hernandez: 7

The pea scored but I it wasn’t his best performance of what has been a simply phenomenal season. Took his goal well, but had a number of other chances, a free header chief amongst them. I think we can forgive him an off-day after all he has done though don’t you?

Subs:

 Jonny Evans: 6 

 Came on in place of the injured O’Shea and looked more comfortable at left-back than he has at Centre this season.

Chris Smalling: 6

Did not really have a chance to make that much impact. One very un-centre-back like drive into the Chelsea area, showing an admirable control over the ball, held resonance to a young Rio Ferdinand. Smalling will have a big year next term.

Subs not used: Anderson, Berbatov, Nani, Scholes, Kuszczak