Returning duo hold the key to United’s defence

‘Squeaky bum time’- Sir Alex Ferguson’s famous quote to describe the business end of the season we are entering as the freshness of Spring greets the air. The difference in the title race for his team this season could be in defence, with the return of the defensive marriage of Ferdinand and Vidic from injury.

Cast your mind back to last season during Autumn and Winter when a side couldn’t buy a goal against Manchester United. The same period this year, United were leaking goals mainly due to the injury crisis they had in defence. Carrick and Fletcher were playing as part of a unfamiliar back three- to highlight how serious that crisis was – and they went down 3-0 away at Fulham. Last season they kept twenty five clean sheets in the league, nineteen of those by this time last season. In comparison, this season they have managed fourteen in the league so far.

Three of those cleans sheets have been in their last three league games (add another one if you include the second leg against Milan) and isn’t just a coincidence it is due to the return of Ferdinand and Vidic. Evans has stepped in and largely done well but his lack of experience was exposed in the 1st leg of their Champions League tie against Milan. In the second leg, although Milan were poor, Ferdinand’s and Vidic’s experience shone through and kept any Milan attack down to half chances at goal. A couple only at that.

Ferdinand especially, as the new England captain, seems more focused and keen to exercise his world class attributes. Vital for United and of course for England. Vidic is showing signs of getting his head back in the right place. At least until speculation about his future reignites in the summer.

In addition to their defensive qualities, their ability and confidence on the ball paves the way to the next United counter attack which has ripped so many teams apart over the years.

Although Milan was not a league game the performance of the two was a throw back to United’s record breaking run last season and showed signs they can deliver a similar tightness for the remaining ten league games and whatever adventures United find themselves in in Europe.

The theory that the return of Ferdinand and Vidic could prove the difference in the title race will be put to the test when United face Liverpool on Sunday and one man that will still haunt both defenders. That man, Fernando Torres of course.

Just over a year ago to the day, Vidic’s mistake set up Torres to equalise for Liverpool in their meeting at Old Trafford. To add to the defenders misery he was sent off in the second half and the resulting free kick converted and Liverpool went on to win 4-1.

Earlier this season despite a painfully bad run of defeats leading up to the game, a 70% fit Torres hit Liverpool’s winner after out sprinting and out musclering Ferdinand in the second half. Question marks to Rio‘s own level of fitness were confirmed when enough was enough and he had rehabilitation on the troublesome back problem that played the start of his season. He only returned against Hull in January.

To get the double over Manchester United might be the only joy Merseyside fans get to enjoy this season. Certainly if United let Torres run between their defensive line like they let Zamora run in-between Ferdinand and Neville last Sunday, the result will be more costly. (A sign that the United defence isn’t quite back to it’s best just yet.) Merseysider’s will be singing. But not when the Premiership title gets lifted later in May.

This year they have left contenders to United’s crown to Arsenal and Chelsea. The latter will be determined and desperate to win some meaningful silverware after crashing out in Europe. They have proved they have the ability to win the title but also the ability to slip up just when it looks like they can pull away this season. Going out in Europe could make or break their season.

With arguably the easier run in, Wenger must be wondering deep down if this fragile team he has put so much faith in over the years, will press the self destruct button. They haven’t the experience of a title race this late in the season and although their football at times can be breath taking, question marks remain to their consistence and their ability to grind out a result on an off day. They should be out of the title race. The manner of their January defeats to United and Chelsea in recent season would have finished them off. But it didn’t and they are still there. Maybe the penny has finally dropped? Time will tell though and despite how confident Wenger will talk his team’s very good chances up, his team will still play under the shadow of that self destruct button. Until its pressed, if pressed before May.

Ferdinand and Vidic do have the experience and will want to put the ghost of Torres to bed this Sunday. They will want to take the thorn out of the side of their injury plagued season’s. A win, a good performance, momentum for the forthcoming clash of the titans with Chelsea. This is what the two want and Ferguson expects. He has set his side a target of wining all the remaining league games. A tall order but the way they have gathered momentum, changed from their early season 4-4-2 formation to bring the goal scorer out of Rooney and have the vast experience of the squad Ferguson will believe the target is possible. Clean sheets will of course help this and lesson the burden on Rooney rapidly growing shoulders. If they can keep fit, the partnership of Ferdinand and Vidic in defence will be the foundations of United’s successful title defence.

Written By Luke Harrison