Man Utd: A Team of Winners - A Team of Champions

As Manchester United settle down on their outstandingly high perch and look down to their challengers with a stunning glint of silverware flashing in their eyes, they will be thinking back to the start of the season with triumph, when people  everywhere weren't giving them a chance. At times of course, early in the season, the position United are currently in didn't look likely, but United have all season got the job done when it mattered. There were shaky, nervous times along the way, but United have achieved what they set out to achieve, and have done it with a game to spare.

How did United do it? How are they Champions again? How are they in the Champions League Final? Those are questions many may ask themselves. Just look at the manager. Sir Alex Ferguson has assembled this team and instilled in them something that only certain people can. His passion, desire, determination, dedication, tenacity and pure will power have been on show for all to see in the players throughout the season, and even when games have not ended in United's favour, the team were always back up and ready for a win the next week.

The fact that United were able to stay an unbeaten side up until early February sums it up well. The football may not have been the best, but there were enough wins, and enough points to keep them up at the top and on course for the historic 19th. Late goals were conceded against sides like Fulham and Everton, but for all those late goals conceded were late goals going in the other direction in other games.

United kept on fighting, and despite tough competition from Arsenal and Chelsea who were challenging for the title, as well as the rest of the Premier League, whose quality has improved impressively over the years. No longer would a lowly side go to a top side and expect to lose, but at Old Trafford, no-one expected to win - because this season, United have been unbeatable at home.

Manchester United players should be filled with pride on achieving this great feat. From Ryan Giggs, who will lift the Premier League for the twelfth time against Blackpool, to Michael Owen, who although has not played as big a part as others, has grabbed some vital goals in his time at United and will lift his first Premier League next week.

Against Blackburn, Tomasz Kusczcak highlighted how important and how valuable Edwin van der Sar has been all season. The Dutchman has been phenomenal in goal, often stopping the unstoppable and simply being the calming and authoritative figure at the back that all great teams need.

Vidic and Ferdinand have been rocks at the back, with commentators tiring of saying "Vidic clears the danger" and "Ferdinand cuts out the attack". When others make mistakes, they were back there to clean up the mess. They have been and will be the players to look up to in the future when Giggs and Scholes have gone, with the typical Manchester United attitude running through their blood.

Giggs and Scholes have done what they do every year, except arguably better, inspiring the players around them to play to the end, and drive the others to the trophies that they have won countless times already. The wingers, Valencia, Nani and Park have been brilliant, and perhaps if Valencia and Park had not suffered injuries in he season, United could have won this earlier. Assists and  creativity are just as important as those goalscorers. 

Carrick and Fletcher may not have started so well or been such a calming influence, but they have often been brilliant in the middle. Carrick was able to get back into his groove towards the end of the season, spraying balls all over the pitch and getting attacks started, while Fletcher's reputation of being a big game player was not used as much through illness.

Berbatov - top scorer and incredible skill. Rooney - the man who almost left at the start of the season, who went on to regain top form and score the goal to win the Premier League and the 19th title for United.

This is a side to be proud of, and one who have created history. It is number 19 now, but no doubt, next season Sir Alex Ferguson and company will be fighting as driven as ever for number 20.

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Video: Goal That Won Manchester United The PL 10/11

Manchester United have won the Premier League title, and the goal above is the goal that will bring the trophy back to Old Trafford. A point was all that was needed, and a point was all that was taken by a Manchester United side who have struggled away from all season. Blackburn opened the scoring, and could have grabbed a few more with moments of embarrassment for the United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak as the Polish keeper started his first game in a little while. 

United were able to stay in the game and when Chicharito burst into the box and took a touch to take it away from the out-rushing Paul Robinson, the young Mexican went down, and after much deliberation with his linesman, Phil Dowd gave United the penalty. Who should step up, but the man who almost left the club at the start of the season citing a lack of ambition. A Premier League title and a Champions League final later, and Rooney is happily eating his words and scoring the goals. This one will go down in the history books as the one that won Manchester United the Premier League tile 2010/11. 

Next up, Blackpool - and after that, Barcelona.

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Nasri: Arsenal are "stronger" & "more macho"

Samir Nasri is full of confidence as his side prepare for an intense, hostile, and in the context of Arsenal's season, huge game at the Nou Camp next Tuesday. He believes that Arsenal have largely improved since being toppled at the stadium filled with close to 100,000 fiercely competitive Catalans, loyally cheering their stars and being rewarded royally last season with a 4 - 1 win.

The Frenchman was speaking at the Adidas launch of the official match ball for the UEFA Champions League final Wembley 2011 in which Nasri of course hopes to be a part of. He said:

"Barcelona seemed much better last year because we've become more macho, both physically and psychologically."

"Some of the players are much better this year than before - Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, myself. We've all stepped up and become stronger and more macho.

Players have stepped up and driven the team forward. We can compete with everyone now. We approached the game differently this time because last year we were a little bit scared of Barcelona."

"It was the first time we had played against a team like that. They were fantastic and played amazing football. We were really surprised at how good they were. This year we've said, 'listen, they are the best team in the world, if we beat them it will be fantastic.

If we lose, it will be normal because they are the best team in the world'. We went in without pressure and played our game. We showed everyone we can beat them."

Arsenal came back from a goal down in an incredible show of fight as they restored pride in front of their fan at the Emirates. It showed the improvement that Nasri spoke of for all to see. They had recovered from an early blow - not allowing it to knock them out, but helping it to spurn them on to turn the tables on the Spanish Champions. A late comeback showed the persistence and fighting spirit that has been said to have been lacking in recent seasons.

Arsenal need this kind of fight and resilience to survive on the 8th March, especially if they go down to a goal early on. Nasri said:

"We came back in the first leg because physically they dropped. This is because the Spanish league is not the same as the Premier League. In England there is an intensity that isn't there in Spain.

"It was good for us because in the last couple of years everyone has questioned our mental strength."

"We showed in the match that we have that mental strength. It was special for us because we proved to ourselves that we can beat big teams. We felt fitter in the first leg and last year as well. We were losing 2-0 but came back 2-2.

"This year for 70 minutes they were great, they had the ball and were playing. But they made some changes, were less dangerous and we put more pressure on them and became more aggressive.

"Barcelona are like Brazil. They don't like it when you put pressure on them and attack them. They want to play their game. If you put pressure on them, they're not the same team."

Arsenal have already lost a cup final already at the hands of Birmingham - an unlucky loss that will hve dented their confidence in a game they were expected to win. From what Nasri said here, it seems like he believes Arsenal have everything to play for, and will simply go for it - go for the win, and allow being the underdogs rather than favourites to work in their advantage.

One thing is for sure, it will be an excellent game.

B'pool 2 - 3 United: This Is What Champions are Made Of.

An abysmal first half for Manchester United and quite the opposite for the brilliantly hard working, passionate, dedicated Blackpool. The Tangerines walked off at half time to jubilant cheers from their home fans as their excellent performance featured two well deserved goals, one for former United player Cathcart, and DJ Campbell. Manchester United's unbeaten record was in serious threat.

United were wearing the white strip that saw them lose their first game of the season against West Ham in the Carling Cup quarter finals, in which they lost 4 - 0. The way they were playing tonight, there would be no surprise if a repeat of that scoreline was on the cards. The first half performance simply was not good enough, and reflected United's away record this season. Questions of Sir Alex Ferguson's formation were raised along with the dedication of United players, including Wayne Rooney - on around £250,000 a week, and not showing any of the quality expected. Overall, the United team, specifically the midfield, were n absolute shambles.

Everything was perfectly placed for a typical Manchester United comeback. The performance had to be one hundred times better if United were to complete it, and substitutions had to be used to shake some sense and really just a level balance in the midfield. Ryan Giggs was first on the menu therefore. He had been in this situation countless times in his wonderfully successful career with United, and if anyone could come on and instill the calmness and togetherness that he has experienced throughout his career, it was Giggs.

Berbatov, who had been non existent in the first half, began the almost inevitable breakthrough and comeback with a typical poachers tap-in. Wayne Rooney, who had another poor game, was brought off for the "Little Pea" Chicharito. The little predator duly equalised two minutes later with a slick finish, and, with all of the momentum on their side, Berbatov grabbed yet another goal to win the game, to take all three invaluable points back to Old Trafford while counting their lucky stars that the hosts crumbled under the second half pressure.

Conceding late goals has been an unwelcome feature for the Red Devils this season, and they had 10 minutes of stoppage time to concede a late one. Sir Alex didn't prematurely persuade the fourth official (Mark Clattenburg) to add on a colossal amount for United to grab a winner just in case they hadn't already though. Poor Rafael was hurt in a collision with Marlon Harewood, and was stretchered off with concussion. His concerned twin brother followed him through the tunnel, and to the hospital. Hopefully all is okay there for Rafael, who although he didn't have the best of games, has had an excellent season so far.

Nevertheless, United held on to the end, and showed all of their title rivals just how to complete a comeback against such an inspirational, passionate and resilient side in Blackpool who played in the first half as if their lives depended on it. United once again played terribly at times and got away with it with a complete contrast performance in the second period. It is quite brilliant, but crushing for teams around them watching, as Manchester United move five points clear and still - yes still undefeated.