by W.H. Garcia

Created on: October 12, 2007   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

The supposed demise of Manchester United has been a perennial topic of discussion, especially since the days of them winning the league by embarrassing margins have long been gone. However, even the harshest critics would find it hard to dispute the longevity of the Red Devils'.

When the invincibles' of Arsenal won the 03/04 league title by going through the entire season unbeaten, the club and the fans alike were predicting a new era for English football. Arsenal, with their swashbuckling style of football, were supposed to break Manchester United's stranglehold and dominate the new decade. Then came along party poppers in the form of Roman Abramovich and his roubles and Chelsea obliged by going on to win the next two league titles. Again, people were expecting Chelsea to take over as the team of the new decade. All the pretenders to the crown were put in their place as Manchester United won the league last season to vanquish Chelsea's hopes for a third consecutive crown.

Player for player, Manchester United's current crop of players may not have the technical ability of Arsenal's; neither do they have the strength to overcome Chelsea's physical battlers. It is the staying power of the team and their manager that differentiates them from the rest. It is the psyches of these seasoned professionals that have enabled them to stand up time and again even when they have been buried by their critics.

Since the inception of the Premier League, Manchester United have not gone more than three seasons without a title. Out of the 6 times that they failed to win the league, they have been runners-up three times. No other team in the league can challenge Manchester United in terms of the consistency and the resilience shown over the last 15 years.

Alex Ferguson has been well-served by his first two great teams of the past. He is on the way towards a third great team' which he hope will bring him the elusive second European prize that he so badly desires. So far this season, this relatively young team has shown enough potential to suggest that the team can develop into world-beaters, if they not already are. Against Wigan, untested players like Danny Simpson and Gerard Pique gave credible performances in the absence of their seniors. With such a young and talented squad that is improving all the time, it would be foolish to think that Manchester have had their day.

Manchester United continues to flourish as an international brand, despite their well-publicized financial troubles'. Fears that the blue revolution' would amass support for Chelsea at the expense of Manchester United have been unfounded. Just recently, Old Trafford played host to a full house at a League Cup encounter while Stamford Bridge was half-empty in the Champions League match against Rosenberg.

While Chelsea has yet again parted with their manager, Alex Ferguson has remained a constant in the Red Devils' dressing room. The club's emphasis in continuity of leadership has served the club well in the past and it will continue to lay the foundation for future players. While Manchester United may no longer be the all conquering side that they were in the 90s, they will continue to march on as long as Alex Ferguson is at the helm.

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