Football Season Guide

Manchester United secured a record 19th title last season, finally removing Liverpool off the perch as the most successful club in England, but were utterly outclassed by Barcelona in the Champions League final in a manner that very much dampened the celebrations over the historic title. It has been a summer of transition at Old Trafford, with Sir Alex Ferguson overhauling the squad in a manner comparable to the clear-out in 1995. Most of it was forced by the retirements of Edwin van der Sar, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes with the manager buying players who will be at the club for the long term. David de Gea is an excellent keeper and, aged 20, can be with the Red Devils for the next two decades. Phil Jones is a superb defensive talent and a ready-made replacement for Rio Ferdinand when the old head decides to hang up the boots in a few years' time. However, the really big signing expected this summer, the midfield to fill Scholes' boots, has not materialised yet and it is anyone's guess whether Wesley Sneijder will eventually end up at United. The squad still looks pretty good as it is at the moment and United seem in pole position to reclaim their title. Manchester City may have further reduced the gap and Chelsea may have a bright new manager but with Wayne Rooney firing in all cylinders in pre-season and the squad at full-strength from the start, something that has rarely been seen lately, United are definitely bound for a good start and from then on they will be difficult to depose. The big aim is to topple this peerless Barcelona side from the pantheon of European football and this will be an immeasurably more complicated task given the way United were outplayed in two of the last three Champions League finals. However, with Ferguson in the midst of building his last great United side and hungrier than ever, one should never ever write off United from indeed getting the better of the Spanish giants at last.