Football
Reuters 17y

Soccer-United crowned champions after season of style

By Trevor Huggins

LONDON, May 6 - Having thrilled the crowds for
most of this season with Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, it
was ironic that Manchester United should win the Premier League
title without even kicking a ball on Sunday.

The dazzle of United's attacking football, with 83 goals
scored in their 36 games after Saturday's derby win over
Manchester City, was the hallmark of the Old Trafford club's
16th championship success.

Ronaldo's surging runs and clever step-overs, which brought
him three Player of the Year awards, Rooney's superb finishing
and the cutting edge in midfield of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes
made for an unstoppable package.

The goal tally far outweighed last season's 36-game haul of
68 and was the difference between runners-up spot behind Chelsea
and being champions for the first time since 2003.

United's defence also played its part, notably with Nemanja
Vidic and Patrice Evra stepping up a level this season at
centre-half and left-back respectively, while Michael Carrick
did an elegant job in the holding midfield role.

Off the pitch, the credit clearly goes to manager Alex
Ferguson, whose drive and determination are undimmed despite
celebrating his 20th year in the United hotseat in November and
his 65th birthday on New Year's Eve.

His grip on the United dressing room remains iron-like and
the Scot is still more than ready to cross swords with football
officialdom and other managers in defence of his club's
interests.

Sunday's triumph marked his 18th major trophy with United
and the haul could soon rise to 19 if they beat Chelsea in the
FA Cup final at the new Wembley Stadium on May 19.

Certainly, their league form over the past year will give
Ferguson's men a psychological edge.

Stung by Chelsea's two consecutive titles, United made their
intentions clear right from the start of the season with a 5-1
thrashing of Fulham -- Rooney scoring twice and Ronaldo once.

Three more league wins followed before Ferguson's men faced
their first real test against old rivals Arsenal in September.

United failed as Arsene Wenger's side got into their passing
rhythm, played the better football and were rewarded with a late
winner from Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor at Old Trafford.

NEW HEIGHTS

But the defeat prompted United to reach new heights and was
the reason, according to Ferguson, why they beat future
Champions League finalists Liverpool 2-0 in another showcase
encounter at Old Trafford a month later.

"You know you can't afford to lose a big one again," said
the Scot. "The players responded to that. I think their
performance was excellent."

In fact, United did not lose in the league again until the
week before Christmas, bizarrely going down 1-0 at relegation
strugglers West Ham United.

They kept up that momentum despite Arsenal coming from
behind to complete the double over them in a pulsating finale at
the Emirates in January.

It served as another fillip, with United scoring 10 times
without reply in their next three league games.

They have now cantered to the title with a week to spare
despite dropping points in the closing stages to Portsmouth and
Middlesbrough, and should enjoy visiting Chelsea on Wednesday.

Once tipped as a title decider, United can now expect a
guard of honour at Stamford Bridge -- two years after Ferguson's
men performed the same duty for Chelsea at Old Trafford.

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