Manchester United claim 20th English league title

Manchester United players celebrate securing the clubs 20th English league title after beating Aston Villa 3-0 at Old Trafford last night

Manchester United claimed their 20^th English league title last night with a 3-0 victory over struggling Aston Villa.

It was their 13^th title in the Premier League and underlined their dominance of the English game in the past 20 years.

Comfortable

Last night’s victory was a very comfortable one for Sir Alex Ferguson and his team.

In fact, Robin van Persie had bagged a hat-trick in just 33 first half minutes. In truth, United could have scored more goals, but took their foot off the gas in the second period.

Van Persie

Key to last night’s victory and the title has been Robin van Persie. The Dutchman arrived from Arsenal for £24million last summer and continued where he left off last season scoring more goals.

He is currently top Premier League goal scorer with 24 for the season. The 29-year-old is likely to win the golden boot with main rival Luis Suarez facing a lengthy ban after Sunday’s controversy.

Van Persie’s goals have won United the title. He has been the difference between United and their arch-rivals Manchester City. City also attempted to sign Van Persie, but he chose United and that decision that has played a big part in the title returning to Old Trafford.

Van Persie went two months and ten games without scoring a goal yet he has still scored 24 goals, that is how good he was earlier in the season. He has started to hit top form again in the last few games, scoring five goals in his last three appearances.

His first goal was a tap-in and he did not have to do much for his third, but his second was simply sensational. He plucked Wayne Rooney’s superb pass out of the air and produced a fantastic volley, similar to the one he scored for Arsenal against Everton last season.

Legend

Love him or hate him you cannot fail to admire United boss Sir Alex Ferguson. The veteran boss has produced yet another team that has won a league title. The evergreen Scot just keeps going season after season and his hunger never seems to wane.

It is hard to see anybody achieving anywhere near what Fergie has in English football. Some claim he is the best manager ever, and it is hard to argue with 13 league titles in 25 years and countless other trophies.

Determination

As I have stated previous articles I do not think this is the best United team we have ever seen, but they have the same determination of past great United teams. It is that sheer determination and will to win that has won them their 20^th league crown.

Unnoticed

Manchester United are always been linked with central midfielders, but one man has typified United’s consistency this season, Michael Carrick. The 31 year-old midfielder has for so long been the heartbeat of the United team.

He is not the flashiest of players, but he just keeps everything ticking over in the United engine room. I do not think it is a coincidence that United’s consistency has coincided with Carrick’s best season for United.

His work so often goes unnoticed. However, his good form this season has earned him the honour of being named on the shortlist for Player of the Year. Although he is unlikely to win, it is still acknowledgement of a superb season for Carrick.

Deserved

I do not think there are many people that would argue that Manchester United deserve to win the Premier League title this season. Over the season, they have been the most consistent team, without ever being spectacular.

Next season they are likely to have a harder fight on their hands to win the Premier League title. The noisy neighbours are likely to raise their voices even louder next season and the race for next seasons Premier League title will be an even harder one.

Defeat

Last night’s visitors Aston Villa probably did not come to Old Trafford with any great expectation of claiming anything from the game. A Villa victory would have mathematically condemned QPR and Reading to the drop.

However, it never looked like happening, as United were just too good for the visitors in the opening period. Villa came into the game more in the second period, but by then the United players were just thinking about getting to the final whistle and celebrating their title victory.

Vital

Villa will now turn their attention to their next game, which is a home clash with fellow strugglers Sunderland next Monday. It is a must-win game for the Villans, but Sunderland has won the last two games under mercurial boss Paolo Di Canio.

Should Villa lose and Wigan wins at home against Tottenham then Villa will be in the drop zone with just three games remaining.

Anxious

Villa faces an anxious end to their Premier League campaign. However, for Sir Alex Ferguson and his team there are no such worries. They could still beat Chelsea’s record point’s tally of 95 points in the English top flight.

Knowing Ferguson’s mentality, he is unlikely to let his player’s performance drop from now until the end of the season and it would not surprise me if United did win their remaining games.

Will Manchester United win their four remaining Premier League games?