The splendor of the Seven

There is an opinion that the optimal duration of a trainer in one team is three to four years. Then, they say, the team and the club atmosphere become boring, and the freshness and sharpness of perception of events are lost hopelessly.

Alex Ferguson by his own example has long destroyed such a stereotype. It turns out that if the composition and circle of assistants is updated in a timely and phased manner, it is quite possible to successfully manage the team for two decades, not only preserving motivation, but also finding more and more incentives.

In the mid-90s, the team of Canton, Hughes and Kanchelskis, who forged the first successes of the Ferguson “MU”, gradually implanted Beckham, Scholes, Giggs and other future stars, who soon achieved European triumph. However, Sir Alex would not have been himself if he had not felt in time the need for another redecoration. The shocking breakup with Roy Keene is the most revealing episode.

As a result, today Manchester United is already the team of Rooney, Ferdinand, Carrick and, of course, Cristiano Ronaldo, whose arrival in the summer of 2003, perhaps, marked the beginning of a new stage in the Manchester era of Ferguson.

A few weeks earlier, Ronaldo moved to Europe with his bosom friend and partner in the Lisbon Sporting, Ricardo Quaresma. Like the current heroes of “Jose Alvalade” Nani and Moutinho, this couple of exploits in the form of “Sporting” and the Portuguese youth excite wealthy Europe.

It is now Ronaldo is quoted disproportionately above a friend. And three and a half years ago, their talents seemed quite equal. Moreover, the president of Barca Laporta, choosing, preferred Quarezhma, valuing him at 6 million euros and one Fabio Rochembaka. It is all the more surprising that Cristiano Ronaldo took the first steps in Old Trafford in his debut game with Bolton and demonstrated the makings of a potential leader for Manchester United, while Quarezma made a false start in his European career and returned to his homeland a year later. So why did one use the chance and the other not, despite the fact that both had plenty of playing time?

What if we explain this, say, with the difficult character of Quarezhma? But with Ronaldo, he is certainly not sugar! For example, if recently Ricardo could afford to openly fool around at the European Youth Championship, sulking at Scolari, who did not take him to Germany, then Cristiano, frightened by the British reaction to the “mundial” incident with Rooney, out loud announced his dream of moving to Real Madrid "And do not return to Manchester.

And yet it’s significant: the management of Barça did not tolerate Quaresma even for a year, and Alex Ferguson has been trying for the fourth season to try to curb his Portuguese wild temper by forgiving him even summer flirting with the royal club.

The point here, perhaps, is that Laporta acquired Quaresma as president - for the semi-mythical role of the second Figo, casting for which Simau Sabroza had not passed a little earlier. The main motives for the purchase of Ricardo were nationality and gameplay. In the case of Ronaldo, coach Ferguson consciously wanted to diversify his team’s offensive game. Sir Alex clearly appreciated the real and potential possibilities of Cristiano, the scope of their application on the field. The flank exercises of Giggs and Beckham became largely predictable for rivals - especially British ones, and the newcomer undoubtedly added a new one to the Manchester United game palette.

By the way, in the summer of the same 2003, David Beckham left Manchester, leaving the seventh number vacant, which before him had traditionally belonged to the club's iconic players - such as Eric Cantona and Brian Robson. Having given 12 million pounds for Ronaldo and offered him a T-shirt with a seven, the leadership of Manchester United in the person of Ferguson opaque hinted to Cristiano what kind of hope he connects with him.

Impressive numbers

It is not surprising that this summer, Sir Alex became a barrier on the way of his protege in the “Real” or “Valencia”, which also had views of the Portuguese. The meaning of Ferguson's stay in the team is reduced to the desire to relive the same success with the new generation as with the previous one. And the footballer under the seventh number is definitely the central figure in his plans.

Cristiano is only 21, although it seems that we have been watching him for ages. He is steadily progressing and every year plays an increasingly important role on the field. Take the same statistics. In the first season in Manchester United, he scored 6 goals, in the second - 9, in the past - 12. And in the current season he reached the same dozen almost by the middle of the championship. Yes, and assists today he has done more than for the entire last season: 7 against 6. Is not impressive?

Cristiano Ronaldo is appreciated by the variety of tactical repertoire. He is equally bright on any of the flanks. And if Rooney has disciplinary or medical problems, he is always ready to support Louis Saa from the depths. In any case, he acts on the entire front of the attack, and his attachment to a certain position is always conditional.

By the way, in a recent book about Manchester United, Ferguson named the seven best players for his entire twentieth birthday at the club. Now, the inclusion of Cristiano on this list does not look a generous advance either ...

Under the press of the stands

One gets the impression that in relation to our hero, the football world has split. One part of him goes crazy for Cristiano Ronaldo, marveling at his exclusive dribbling and eccentric behavior, the other desperately despises, recalling the famous painting falls and the same provocative manners. It is difficult to name in today's football a more ambiguous extra-class player. The same Ronaldinho and Totti also have enough detractors, but their number fades against the background of the armies of fans. The situation with Cristiano Ronaldo is different.

"Serial diver" recently christened the Portuguese Gareth Southgate. Fans from Emirates or St James's Park have long come up with much more tart nicknames for him. The story of the German removal of Wayne Rooney finally confirmed Cristiano as an outcast in most English arenas. In this sense, perhaps he was really out of luck with the host country. In the championship, where sincerity and courage are the most important components of the football process, it is unlikely that anyone will like his tricks.

However, as if contrary to regular booing and tricks, Cristiano spends the best season of his career. Having fallen under such a giant psychological pressure at such an early age, the guy - we give him his due - shows himself in all its splendor. The first championship title in his life, or perhaps the title of the best player of the season, could become an excellent compensation for him in the spring.