What is the difference between a good team and a champion team?The answer is, a good team wins when it is in form while a champion team wins even when it is out of form. The recent results showed that Manchester United are a champion team and they can re-create history by winning the treble again. They had 5 difficult games(4 of them were away games) in 15 days and they came out victorious in all of them even though they didn't play very well. After a victory at Lille, United's progress in UCL looked like the only outcome of the tie. Then, United won a game at Craven Cottage against Fulham to stretch their lead at the top of the table to 9 points. United's reserves secured a victory at Reading to keep the FA cup hopes alive.Then came the big one against Liverpool at Anfield. Liverpool had not lost a league game at home for more than 1 year. So, even a draw would have been acceptable to United' fans. As the match went on, Liverpool created more and more chances and looked destined to score sooner or later. Liverpool nearly got the lead when Bellamy beat Van Der Sar but he was off side. United kept on defending and trying to hit Liverpool on the break. Then came the incident which could have proved to be the turning point of this game. Paul Scholes was sent off for a wild swing of arm aimed at Xabi Alonso. 10 men United side tried to hold on to a 0-0 scoreline. Van Der Sar made a great save to deny Peter Crouch a goal. In injury time, United won a free kick just outside the 18 yard box. Ronaldo's shot was deflected by the keeper and John O'Shea didn't make any mistake to beat Reina. United won the game in injury time and an unlikely hero in form of John O'Shea emerged. The lead at the top increased to 12 points. After this huge success, United beat Lille at home to reach the quarter final of the UEFA Champions League where they take on Roma. Then, United had an away FA cup game at Middlesbrough.Cristiano Ronaldo was the hero again for United as he scored the equalizer at Riverside Stadium to earn a replay at Old Trafford.
After this hectic period, players got some well deserved rest. United's next 3 games are at home and nothing less than a win would be expected in all 3 of them. United have some injury scares as well and it will be a test of character for the rest of the team. Van Der Sar might miss the next game. Rio Ferdinand will be out for 2 games and will miss Euro 2008 qualifier as well. Mikael Silvestre is out for the rest of the season with a dislocated shoulder. Paul Scholes will miss the next 2 games due to suspension. Darren Fletcher is injured too. Louis Saha is out for 2 weeks and Ole Gunner Solskjaer had a minor operation. So, he will be out for a few weeks as well. Henrik Larsson ended his loan spell at Old Trafford and he will join his club Helsingborgs. Suddenly, so many players are out but United should still get positive results as core of the starting 11 is still there. United's next game is against Bolton who currently lie 5th in the league. Bolton are coming to Old Trafford after losing their last 3 games. So, United would like to take advantage of Bolton's poor form. When the two teams went head to head last time, Rooney scored a hat trick to give United an easy 4-0 victory. United would need a similar performance from Rooney and rest of the team to inch closer to the league title.
After this hectic period, players got some well deserved rest. United's next 3 games are at home and nothing less than a win would be expected in all 3 of them. United have some injury scares as well and it will be a test of character for the rest of the team. Van Der Sar might miss the next game. Rio Ferdinand will be out for 2 games and will miss Euro 2008 qualifier as well. Mikael Silvestre is out for the rest of the season with a dislocated shoulder. Paul Scholes will miss the next 2 games due to suspension. Darren Fletcher is injured too. Louis Saha is out for 2 weeks and Ole Gunner Solskjaer had a minor operation. So, he will be out for a few weeks as well. Henrik Larsson ended his loan spell at Old Trafford and he will join his club Helsingborgs. Suddenly, so many players are out but United should still get positive results as core of the starting 11 is still there. United's next game is against Bolton who currently lie 5th in the league. Bolton are coming to Old Trafford after losing their last 3 games. So, United would like to take advantage of Bolton's poor form. When the two teams went head to head last time, Rooney scored a hat trick to give United an easy 4-0 victory. United would need a similar performance from Rooney and rest of the team to inch closer to the league title.
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