Moscow is looming.. But it would not do much harm to strip down and celebrate now wouldn’t it? :D

There you have it guys, the 2007/2008 Barclays English Premier League Champion, the one and only, Manchester United. I would here, take a ten-minute break from my revision to recount the team’s assent to the top of the league after their worst ever start to the season since 1998/99. 

Two draws and one loss against unfancied opponents in their first three games was hardly reflective of a reigning champion. But United fans scoffed off suggestions that the season may not be United’s as they were reminded that the last time they started so badly, the team won the treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in 98/99.

The season really started for United when they scrapped to a 1-0 win over Tottentham Hostpurs, and how ironic is it that it was Luis Nani, Spurs’ target in the pre-season transfers window, who scored the amazing goal. Here comes the acrobatic back flip. Game on.

The following month saw the team winning three out of their four League with similiar scoreline of 1-0, safe for the decisive 2-0 win over Chelsea The attacking flair was there, but a good last touch was missing from the team, they were a shadow of themselves compared to last season. The defence needed to step up, and they did.

In October 2007, the Ronaldo-Rooney-Tevez axis started to work. The team scored four goals in each of their four games (three in the EPL and one in the Champions League). Welcome back, beautiful football.
Other than two minor blips against Arsenal and Tottenham, the team won their games convincingly all till April 2008 (including a 6-0 and a 5-1 wins against Newcastle home and away).

However, as everyone was concentrating on the Man United-Arsenal duel, little did people realise that Chelsea was slowly ascending to the top two half of the table. All of a sudden, Arsenal was no longer a threat, and Chelsea was just three points behind.

Then the Chelsea game in Stamford Bridge. We were cursing, heck we were. Was it a penalty? Hell no! The ball was still in active play heading to inside the penalty area. There was no inteference of play. Guessed the team was plain unlucky. The title race became all exciting then as Chelsea levelled on points with United ahead on superior goal difference with two games remaining.

Both teams won their next game. It was going down to the wire, with United away at Wigan, and Chelsea at home to Bolton. The title was United’s to lose.

Both Wigan and Bolton, having guaranteed safety from relegation, have nothing to play for. But Chelsea decided to start palying the mind games, by pleading Steve Bruce (a United legend and now Wigan’s manager) to play fairly and not to favour United. A normally arrogant Chelseas who brushed their opponnets aside, all of the sudden was showering Wigan with praises, saying how good the team is. Strangely, no one was saying anything about Bolton, until Sir Alex spoke up; and Avram Grant responded by stating how disrespectful Sir Alex was to Bolton for speaking up. *cough*cough*

Yes. Chelsea was relying on Steve Bruce, Emile Heskey, and JJB Stadium’s infamous horrible pitch to win them the title. Avram Grant even went on to suggest that there should be a play-off to decide who’s the champs if two teams were to finish level on points in the future. And they keep on harping on how United will only be winning on goal difference if they were to win the EPL.

How incorrect as it turns out. United overcame a stubborn Wigan side to secure a 2-0 win. Honestly, it wasn’t the firm United side that we have all came to know. Most of the time when they were 1-0 up after Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty, there was always a minute chance of Wigan equalising. Then, came No. 11, Ryan Giggs.

It took just one excellent pass from Wayne Rooney, and Giggs, slipped into the middle of Wigan’s defence stealthly, picked up the ball, and put it pass Chris Kirkland. How befitting it was for a United legend, who was making his 758th appearance equalling Sir Bobby Charlton’s all-time record to score the goal that effectively hands United the trophy. At Stamford Bridge, meanwhile, a heart-broken Chelsea choked when it mattered the most as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Bolton in their stronghold. Title no. 10 for Sir Alex and Giggs. Title no. 17 for Manchester United.

I think what Ronaldo (United’s and EPL’s Player of the Season) said during the after-match interview sums it all. When asked about his contribution, he attributed the team’s victory to his team mates: Edwin Van de Sar, Tomasz Kuszczak, Ben Foster, Wes Brown, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra, Mikael Silvestre, John O’Shea, Gerard Pique, Cristiano Ronaldo, Darren Flectcher, Michael Carrick Anderson, Luis Nani, Park Ji-Sung, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Owen Hargreaves, Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney. And for me, one unsung hero, the team’s captain, Gary Neville, who has been injured whole season, but no doubt playing a part in pushing and supporting the team. 

What’s next for the team? Many have said that Sir Alex will retire if the team wins the Champions League. I hope he doesn’t. I would like to see him eclipsing Liverpool’s collection of 18 titles.