After a stellar performance in the 2007-08 season, Nemanja Vidic’s gaze was set on becoming the world’s top central defender. Cristiano Ronaldo’s attacking vigour characterised that campaign, but Vida’s concrete presence at the back was just as pivotal.
Fresh from a summer free of international commitments due to Serbia’s failure to qualify for Euro 2008, he set to work solidifying the foundations of Manchester United's Premier League and Champions League title defences.
Again the club began in goal-shy fashion as record signing Dimitar Berbatov failed to repay his transfer fee and Ronaldo sat on the sidelines with an ankle injury. This lethargy transferred to the entire side as even the number 15 started slowly.
During the Bulgarian’s September debut against Liverpool, the first of Vidic's well publicised set-backs against the Merseysiders took place as a reckless lunge with the elbow at Xabi Alonso resulted in a red card as the team went down 2-1 at Anfield.
Trailing in the wake of Rafa Benitez’s charges, the pressure started to tell. A hopeless performance against Hull City’s journeymen strikers Marlon King and Daniel Cousin threatened the least likely comeback in Premier League history as United scraped through 4-3 at the end of October.
Rather than wallowing in embarrassment, the Serbian’s fighting spirit came to the fore. Alongside Rio Ferdinand, the finest central defensive pairing in the game kicked on the Red Devils’ charge up the table.
After tasting defeat in the classic with Arsenal on November 8, he was a starter in each of a record breaking 14-match run of clean sheets in the English top flight.
Beginning with a shut out in the 5-0 victory over Stoke City, an iron curtain was placed around goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar.
A winning visit to Japan for the inaugural FIFA Club World Championship interrupted this. Another wayward elbow condemned him to a place in the dressing room though, as he was dismissed by the referee during the final against Copa Libertadores victors LDU Quito.
Number One | Vida makes his point
Back to domestic action in time for the relentless festive fixture list, Vida excelled in his role as the talisman at the back. Even without injured trio Wes Brown, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra, his presence ensued the rest of the league had to wait for the March trip to Newcastle before the Mancunians net was rippled again.
That month was one to forget. Amateurish defending in the face of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard in the return fixture against Liverpool resulted in a shocking mistake for the Spaniard’s goal and marching orders once again for a tug on the captain’s shirt.
The Reds Premier League wobble wasn’t to last and the trophy was secured for the third successive season. There was to be no repeat of the Champions League victory, however. Again, Vida was culpable in a high profile match as his failure to prevent Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o from turning inside set the wheels in motion for a 2-0 defeat.
Regardless of these clangers, the former Spartak Moscow man stands tall as the premier centre-back in world football. His relentless drive and commitment to the cause was rightly rewarded with a clean sweep of the Manchester United Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s goals will certainly be missed at Old Trafford next season, but with Vidic in place at the back, keeping them out won’t be a problem.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 comments