Van Persie missing piece in Fergie's title jigsaw
Alex Ferguson has hailed Robin van Persie as the missing piece in
Manchester United's title jigsaw as the Premier League leaders bid to
extend their lead at the top against Newcastle on Wednesday.
Van Persie has made a superb start to his United career after leaving
Arsenal in a 24 million move in pre-season and the Dutch forward's haul
of 15 goals has fired Ferguson's team four points clear of champions
Manchester City heading into the hectic Christmas programme.
The 29-year-old's dynamic displays have added an extra edge to United
in the same way that French playmaker Eric Cantona and Portugal forward
Cristiano Ronaldo galvanised previous teams in the Ferguson era.
After missing out on the title to City last season, United were in
need of a new driving force this term and Ferguson believes van Persie
is providing it.
"I am reluctant to subscribe to the cult of an individual. But
sometimes you find the last piece of the jigsaw," Ferguson told United's
official matchday programme.
"We did it when we brought Eric Cantona to Old Trafford and he proved
to be the right player at the right club at the right time. He became
the catalyst and springboard for our surge to success.
"It doesn't have to be signing someone for a record fee. Cristiano
Ronaldo was not a record buy either but he certainly made a difference
as he prospered with us to the extent that he came to be regarded by a
lot of people as the world's best player." Without van Persie's goals,
United would be eighth and that perhaps explained Ferguson's fury when
Swansea defender Ashley Williams kicked the ball into the Dutchman's
head as he lay prone on the turf during Sunday's 1-1 draw at the Liberty
Stadium.
How Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini must rue van Persie's
decision to snub the champions in favour of joining United.
Mancini had hoped to make van Persie the centre-piece of his team as
he looked to build on last season's title triumph, but instead he has
had to watch the striker revitalise his club's arch rivals, while his
own strike-force has gone through a barren period.
Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko all laboured once more
against Reading, the division's bottom club, on Saturday and it was left
to England midfielder Gareth Barry to show them how to do it with a
stoppage-time winner.
The good news for Mancini's side was United's failure to defeat
Swansea 24 hours later, a result which will give fresh impetus to City's
challenge according to defender Kolo Toure.
"It's giving us encouragement because we haven't played to our best
yet," Toure said ahead of Wednesday's game at Sunderland.
"Every team knows we are champions. They play 200 percent and that
makes it really hard for us. We just keep fighting, keep pushing and we
can still be better." United and City could be forgiven for regarding
the title race as a strictly Manchester affair this season, especially
as Chelsea have appeared on the verge of self-destructing at times.
But the Blues finally showed signs of emerging as a serious contender
on Sunday thanks to an 8-0 demolition of Aston Villa.
That victory left Chelsea 11 points behind United but with a game in
hand and interim manager Rafael Benitez refuses to write off the
prospect of a title challenge.
"You could see the mentality of the players, even at 6-0 we were
pushing and trying to score more," he said.
"The team are attacking as a whole and not just depending on one or
two players.
"Now we have to sustain this run, keep winning some games and then it
will be easier for me to send a message out that we can compete." With
Arsenal's clash against West Ham postponed due to a strike on the London
Underground, fifth-placed Everton, who host Wigan, Tottenham, who travel
to Villa, and West Bromwich Albion, on their travels at QPR, all have a
chance to move into the top four.
AFP |