Sir Alex Ferguson

30 November -0001

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The 70,000 seater Old Trafford football stadium reflects the sustained success of Manchester United at home and abroad.

They are again qualified for Champions League football next season and within an unforced error of the Premiership. Sir Alex Ferguson has delivered for his new owners and the biggest club in England marches on with the talent of Wayne Rooney lighting up match after match.

However much Liverpool, Arsenal and even Chelsea compete, the predominance of Man U is an established reality and a reality that has been created by the incumbent manager. He still smiles and punches the air when his team score and still stands well above the achievements of others but soon the day must come when Ferguson either stands aside or continues to go on from strength to strength.

Wenger might be looking forward to a larger playing surface at the Arsenal’s new emirates Stadium and the wily Frenchman may yet take his team to the Champions League final. His young men are on-song in Europe and Henry and co. in full flight can slice through anyone.

The English game can be as proud of Arsenal as it can be of any other team plying its trade up and down the country and should they get the chance to have a tilt at Barcelona they can perhaps unravel the pride of Catalonia. A final against Ronaldinho and friends could be an easier fixture for the North Londoners than a robust semi against the spirited and determined Villa Real.

The pressure to perform at the highest level is not something that is easily transmuted from the working day of a professional sportsman or understood from the easy offices of everyday life. Mortals may suffer a sleepless night and worry over a job interview and a footballer may count every lamppost on the way to a game.

A footballer has to do what he has to do, live, in front of thousands, maybe in front of broadcast millions, and every move is under total scrutiny and the hopes of all sorts ride on his back. It may have a different sort of impact on different individuals but the forces at play are considerable, immense and can be crushing.

Talk of pressure is just talk – not the reality of big time games and the relentless attention of millions , the big time money, the hopes and dreams of millions – its an industry revolving on instinctive split second judgements and the execution of physical skills and deployment of will and determination.

Sir Alex Ferguson has been working in the maelstrom for years, he can withstand it all perhaps because he is good at it.

courtesy www.premiershipdiary.com

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