Fantastic 4

An article by Alan Shearer

Another day, another incredible comeback from Manchester United. They may leak goals at the other end but goodness this team has got some firepower. Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez is the most frightening array of attacking talent Alex Ferguson has ever had. And, yes, I include the fantastic four from 1999 of Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

On Friday Ferguson targeted the 100-goal barrier in the league for his team — and already they have 29 from 11 games. Add to that nine in four Champions League games and five in two Capital One Cup games and it makes an incredible 43 goals in 17 games this season. It is not just about relying on one man in Van Persie — they have had 13 different scorers this season.

Van Persie is the main man and his link-up play with Rooney makes it look like they have been together for years.More goals will come for Rooney undoubtedly as he is world class. Welbeck needs to improve his goals-per-chances ratio but his workrate opens up spaces. Then we have Hernandez, the hat-trick hero from Villa Park on Saturday. And yes it was a hat-trick for me, no matter what the dubious goals panel or whoever say about his second. The little Mexican went quiet last season after a fantastic first campaign but he is alive again. Ferguson talks a lot about his movement — and it is fantastic. The way he set off for that Paul Scholes through-ball for his first goal is an example of that. He is always darting around the penalty area to get an opening.

I can see Van Persie, Rooney and Hernandez all hitting 20 goals plus this season. What they all have, as do the whole Manchester United team, is that unwavering belief that they are going to score, they are going to win. Just witness this week. In Braga they were 1-0 down and playing poorly going into the last 10 minutes. They won 3-1. It was the same in the home game against the Portuguese side when they were 2-0 down and won 3-2. Then Saturday at Villa Park. A tenacious Villa side played extremely well and deserved a 2-0 lead. Again United came back and won this time 3-2. 

This is no fluke. It is not as if it is just this Manchester United team either. Every team Ferguson has produced does this. Saturday was the seventh time they have come back from two goals down or more to win in the Premier League era — a record. This season alone they have come from behind to win eight times in all competitions. While a lot of teams subconsciously wind down in the final minutes of a game, Ferguson’s play with a vigour, energy, belief and determination that overwhelms opponents.

Compare their fighting mentality to Arsenal right now who have twice given away two-goal leads this last week to end up drawing. It is their lack of belief that undoes them and, right now, they are a team low on confidence — even with a two-goal lead. They lack the fear factor that Manchester United has. You just knew even at 2-0 down on Saturday that they were going to come back. As soon as they got one you knew two and three would follow — and you sense Villa did as well. Teams subconsciously retreat when they have a lead against United because they just know they are going to come back. More importantly Manchester United know it too. It is a belief that has already taken Ferguson’s teams a long way and, undoubtedly, will do again.