BEL19VE: My Thoughts Ahead of Today's Title Decider

This is it...

The climax, the squeeky bum time, the months of agony, ecstasy, frustration and relief all rolled into one 90 minute slot. But while we prepare for the title decider this afternoon against Chelsea at Old Trafford, to ignore the incredible fact that we have even made it this far through such a flawed campaign is foolish.

If someone told me earlier in the season that we would only need four points in our final three games to win the title, after Chelsea looked to continue their free-scoring form from the previous campaign into this one as United bottled 3-1 leads to end up drawing 3-3 in the final moments, I would have laughed.

But we are here. Not down to our brilliance, however due to our ability to maintain composure and utilise our advantageous desire to win while others around us crumble.

If there's one thing this United side possess unrivalled levels of, it's self-belief and desire. This is our stage of the season. With our destiny very much in our own hands and only Chelsea - a side we demolished twice remember in the space of 6 days only a matter of weeks ago - standing in our way of glory, you feel now is the time to finally knock Liverpool off their f**king perch.

But my confidence and passion towards the game is perhaps only skin deep, and something I am reiterating only because in reality, I am completely bricking it.




What worries me going into the game is the advantage and confidence that must be currently possessed by Chelsea. We are of course on the back of Champions League semi-final victory and a brilliantly assured display that saw us progress into the final. Chelsea however, perhaps more relevantly, have that last minute, if completely illegal, win against Tottenham to spur them on: a victory that if they win the title will surely go down as the defining moment of their campaign, seeing as the day after we lost our game at the Emirates.




On that note, in complete contrast we displayed those exact detrimental flaws against Arsenal that you expected in the opening months of the campaign; not as we enter the most crucial stage where every mistake and error in judgement is scrutinised and punished.




So which United will turn up today? Last week's side, the same that also crumbled at Goodison Park, Craven Cottage and Molineux? Or the side brimming with confidence who love nothing more than to win?

Whichever way it ends, I honestly believe it will be a true, fair reflection of this ridiculous and, lets face it, rather shite season. A Chelsea win, presuming they go on and win their remaining games to retain the title, will not signify a stunning, determined comeback by them (after they were remember 15 points behind United) however a further signifying factor that no team strongly wants this league. And if United win, I am under no illusions that we have been exceptional to fight off the powerful challenge of Chelsea and Arsenal. Because we haven't, and there certainly hasn't been the sort of challenge you would normally expect. 

If we win our final three games, we will reclaim the league on 83 points. Two points less than last season, when we finished second, and seven points less than the last time we won the title in 2009.

We clearly therefore haven't been good enough this season, not to win the league anyway, however the bottom line is that everyone else has essentially been worse. A best of a bad bunch will be how this years winners will be known.

An experienced Chelsea side with the right guidance and a strong, reliable squad would have never let their early advantage go to waste; and an Arsenal side with, well, the same, would not have bottled it the way they did towards the crucial final leg of the season. Manchester United however, whatever critics and fans alike have to say about the quality of the squad and in turn apparent inability to compete the way we used to, still possess the drive and desire to win.

So as I look around my room, nerves piling up and confidence slowly deteriorating as the reality of the event increases, I am reminded once again of the United mantra. Staring down upon me are icons such as Giggs, Best and Cantona; looking at me and almost whispering the word 'Believe' as I await this crunch tie. These are winners, and they have all been taught and nurtured in that way thanks to the winning notion and incredible will that has been instilled within the fabric of Manchester United; one that is thankfully passed down from team to team, and hopefully, as Sir Alex's seasons as boss slowly draw to a close, from manager to manager.

We are not merely a team who have been compiled with large sums of money and abide by the new-wave notion of 'money = success', nor are we a team that is embarrassingly heralded for their 'attractive style of football' as a way of disguising the fact that we are actually shit and our 'attractive style of football' has won us nothing in six seasons. We are winners. And for that reason, with number 19 in site and the prospect of that Liverpool-only perch being eradicated, we have to Believe that now is our time.