United chief exec says miners ´inspired´ victory

Manchester United chief executive David Gill said the rescued Chilean miners visiting Old Trafford had helped propel the football giants back to the top of the Premier League table.

Gill was speaking on Tuesday at the end of the miners’ three-day trip to Manchester that saw them watch United’s 1-0 win over title rivals Arsenal here on Monday.

According to Gill, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had referred to them in his pre-match team talk and the chief executive, addressing the miners, some of whom were clad in club scarves, said Tuesday: “I am absolutely delighted on behalf of Manchester United to welcome the miners here on this special visit.

“To see you dancing and singing in the directors box yesterday (Monday) was fantastic.

“And you played a part in that win over Arsenal last night. I know Sir Alex referred to your story in his team talk before the game.”

Gill added the “miracle of San Jose” which saw the 33 miners trapped underground for two months eventually all rescued had global resonance.

“It’s clearly a story of bravery, courage and teamwork and the miners are a brilliant example of triumph over adversity.”

Miners Raul Bustos, 40, and Pedro Cortez, 25, speaking through a translator, said they were proud Sir Alex had mentioned them before the match but played down their ‘hero’ status.

“We don’t feel like big stars, like the stars that play football. We feel like very normal people,” Bustos said.

“We are just trying to represent Chile and the miners in the UK.”

Cortez added: “I am very proud to know that Sir Alex used our story to motivate the team.”

In all, some 26 of the 33 miners made the journey to Manchester after their trip was suggested by United and England great Sir Bobby Charlton, whose father was a miner.

The Chilean miners were rescued one by one as a specially built capsule brought them back up to the ground.

Their story made headlines around the world and a movie about their ordeal is now being planned.

Ferguson, speaking to Sky Sports before Monday’s match, said: “I think there are examples in life we should always take note of.

“I mean the life of a miner, having to work in the bowels of the earth, you can’t see anything. It’s a great sacrifice to earn a corn (living),” added Ferguson, who once worked in the Govan shipyards of his native Glasgow.

“You are talking about people with real substance and how they’ve persevered and made sure they’ve survived, survivors is really what they are.”