Tevez's introduction changed the complexion of the game. It was as if a switch had been flicked and, when Michael Carrick speared a beautiful shot into the top corner with four minutes to play, it effectively ended any last chance of United surrendering their position at the top of the league. Sir Alex Ferguson's side now need a solitary point against Arsenal at Old Trafford on Saturday or, failing that, when they go to Hull City on the final day of the season. It is still not arithmetically certain but it is implausible to believe United will get their sums wrong now.
They will be worthy champions, on course for a club-record 92 points, and their capacity to thrill still burns as strongly as ever. A man of Ferguson's years must surely wish they could do things more serenely sometimes, for this was another occasion when United deceived us into thinking they could self-implode before delivering the stunning finale.
In the midst of it all, almost inevitably, was the player who had already publicly said his farewells and appeared to have lost all hope of a future at the club. A different player in Tevez's position might have lost his focus many weeks ago but this is a man whose indignation manifests itself in a sleeves-up determination to prove his own worth. As always, Ferguson is there to take full advantage, the manager ending up doing that triumphant little war dance on the touchline.
I like this combination of praise for Tevez, with praise for the team and for Sir Alex in his use of Tevez, harnessing the "indignation".
On The Guardian Blog Andy Hunter chooses to ignore the great comeback and Tevez's contribution, deciding instead to concentrate on slagging of Ronaldo, the usual litany of complaints and ignoring his part in Carrick's winner. Great journalism (there's another similar stupid attack on Ronaldo in the same place, by Lawrence Donegan).
Oliver Kay has a better look at things, first a realistic look at Tevez:
There was an almighty difference between United’s performance for the first hour and final half-hour. It may be a little too simplistic to say that it all came down to Tévez, but the forward — just as in the second-half fightback against Tottenham Hotspur last month — brought his team an impetus that had been sorely lacking.
His contribution over the course of the season has been patchy, but last night, intent on proving a point, whether to Ferguson or to his suitors at Liverpool, Manchester City and beyond, it was he who changed the mood of the game and, by extension, the result.
As well as a more constructive look at Ronaldo:
he subsequent onslaught was not what it might have been had United’s need been greater, but, with Wigan having run out of steam, there was a sense of inevitability about what followed. Ronaldo earned an extravagant rebuke from Ferguson for one wild shot too many, but he played a part in the winning goal, sending John O’Shea on an overlapping run that ended with a perceptive pull-back and a Carrick shot that will turn Saturday’s game at Old Trafford into one long celebration. No one, it seems, will rain on United’s parade.Also in The Times Bill Edgar looks at our ability to score late goals:
Liverpool fans monitoring Manchester United’s fortunes at the JJB Stadium knew what was coming — 76 minutes: Michael Carrick sidefoots over; 77 minutes: Cristiano Ronaldo tests the goalkeeper; 80 minutes: Wayne Rooney draws a save; 81 minutes: Ronaldo spoons an effort over from close in; 83 minutes: a Carlos Tévez shot from six yards is blocked. Three minutes later, the dam bursts and the red tide washes away the Merseyside club’s slim title hopes as Carrick steers the ball home.
It was the eighth time in their past 22 league games that Sir Alex Ferguson’s side have moved ahead in the final quarter, and the fourth such occasion since Liverpool inserted doubts into Old Trafford minds with a 4-1 win in mid-March. Each time that it has seemed United’s blip might turn into something more serious, they have engineered an exhilarating finish.
this morning it will be Joorabchian's attack on United that dominates. Ferguson said after the game that an offer had been made to Tevez, for whom MSI want a £22m fee on top of the £10m United have already paid out in loan fees over the last two years. Ferguson hinted that the problems with negotiations were a direct cause of Tevez being owned by a third party rather than a football club.Ferguson said: "The fans love him because he is a trier. He has great skill, but he never gives in and that is a great quality to have. He has a hunger to fight all the time. It is wonderful to see. David Gill [the United chief executive] has had a good meeting and I have spoken to him [Tevez]. We have given him an offer and we hope he accepts. The problem is we are not negotiating with a football club."
However, a spokesman for Joorabchian immediately hit back. He said: "It is true David Gill came to see Mr Joorabchian and they had a cordial meeting. It is categorically untrue that Manchester United made an offer to try to persuade Carlos Tevez to stay at the club. In 2007 Manchester United agreed a two-year loan deal for Carlos Tevez and at the same time agreed the terms that would make the transfer permanent. They have not taken up that option."
At the end of a day when Liverpool’s captain, Steven Gerrard, was inexplicably voted Footballer of the Year, Manchester United showed why they are the team of the year, why they will again be champions this year, and why they are brim full of stars blessed with an astonishing work ethic, players who deserve to carve up the individual honours of the year. Manchester United’s class of ‘09: Total football meets total commitment.
Fighting back from Hugo Rodallega’s shock opener for Steve Bruce’s excellent team, United reacted as great sides do, charging forward in red waves, refusing to cede one point, let alone three. This was glorious entertainment, drama in a downpour, a wonderful advertisement for the excitement and honesty of the Premier League. Wigan, their safety secured, competed as if their lives depended on it. United were put through the wringer, emotionally and physically.
In their defiant response to adversity, Ferguson’s side were breathtaking, switching to 4-2-4, equalising through Carlos Tevez, shifting to 4-1-5 and then winning it through their one remaining defensive-minded midfielder, Michael Carrick, who had forsaken his fort-holding duties to join a late attack. What a remarkable side they are, full of movement and ingenuity.
“Cristiano could have scored a hat-trick tonight,” Ferguson said. “Normally he makes the goalkeeper work at least, but nights like this one can happen in football.“We had to be patient. We were the better side and I thought we should have had a penalty too, but weren’t getting anything tonight. We’ve done it ourselves with a fantastic goal by Michael Carrick and a fantastic performance. We will aim to win against Arsenal now. I don’t listen to the criticism they’ve had recently. We know what a good team they are.
“We had to show the resolve of champions against a very determined Wigan side. This was a really tough hurdle, but we got there with a fantastic second-half performance. We were determined, we never gave in, kept going and got a little bit of luck in the second half, but we were fantastic.
“I told them at half-time to keep going and to keep their discipline because the referee was annoying them with a lot of his decisions. I told them to keep their mouths shut and play the game.”
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is flying in Dodo - Brazil's best young defender - to finalise a £6million deal.
The 17-year-old, full name Jose Rodolfo Pires Ribeiro Dodo, who plays for Corinthians, caught United's eye at a recent tournament and talks have moved so fast that the teenager is arriving on Monday in a deal first revealed by Mirror Sport on April 23.
Dodo will spend a fortnight at United on a trip that will also see him go to the Champions League final as a special guest before putting pen to paper.
The youngster, likened to Rio Ferdinand, has yet to make a first-team start for Corinthians and Fergie is ready to let him return to Sao Paulo to play with them for the first half of next season.
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