The legendary Red Devils coach: The road to success

Chapter 296: Insatiable Momentum

"Our boss's favourite Red Devils team is not the Treble-winning team, but the team from 1992 to 1994. I think that's because that team was hungry for victory, full of passion for the game, and the whole team had a high level of confidence, but always maintained a humble attitude."

——"Gary Neville's Autobiography"

At the end of the season, the Red Devils won the league championship, Ferguson won the best coach, Cantona won the most valuable player, and the club received high praise from major media.

The BBC said: "The Red Devils, who successfully defended the title, opened a new era in the Premier League. This is the league that belongs to the Red Devils. This is Ferguson's glory."

Sky Sports said: "Ferguson created a miracle. Defending the title is not common in the league, and the team needs more motivation. The Red Devils are getting better and better under Ferguson's leadership, and their advantage over other Premier League teams is getting bigger and bigger. The Red Devils played more dominantly, more confidently and with ease. We are very impressed. Ferguson's team played sharper, faster and more aggressive, and other teams were unstoppable. We saw more shining technical details, more tactical changes and more individual performances from this team."

The Times said: "The introduction of Keane proved to be the right decision, Ferguson's vision is admirable. They did not seem to change the formation, did not change the structure, and even the tactical play looked similar. But the Red Devils are obviously much better than last season. Their offense and defense are more balanced, their control of the game is more thorough, and the tacit understanding between the players is better. Ferguson has created a very strong overall team, among which there are particularly outstanding players who enhance their overall advantages."

The Manchester Evening News also joined in the fun, saying, "It is often boring for a league to be defended by an old champion, and it is also a sign that the league has lost its competitiveness. But this time the Red Devils are clearly a surprise. Compared with their first Premier League title, their defense this season is more convincing. The league is very intense, and the Red Devils' opponents are still strong, but Ferguson obviously has enough solutions. We watched the red team leave the others far behind, and we can only praise Ferguson's coaching level."

The Red Devils have won two consecutive league titles and have become an undisputed focus of the league. Ferguson has led the team to new heights and achieved success far beyond that of ordinary championship coaches, which naturally won unanimous praise from the media.

The Red Devils' strength has not decreased this season, but the most important thing is that the team has no arrogance or complacency at all, and everyone is hungry for new honors. Ferguson's decision to bring in Keane and train and promote young players has kept the team vibrant and continuously improving.

It was this year that Ferguson's excellent management and scientific training made the team continue to improve. His attempts at playing style and tactical exploration laid a solid foundation for the team to truly dominate the Premier League in the following years. Ferguson started by introducing McClair in 1987, recalling Hughes, and creating a trustworthy attacking combination. Then Bruce and Pallister joined, and Schmeichel was introduced to strengthen the defensive ability; then Cantona joined, Ince and Keane formed a dual core, Giggs shined, Kanchelskis galloped... Ferguson finally built a super strong team according to his own wishes and goals.

After winning the first Premier League title, Ferguson immediately began to strengthen the team's integrity. He needed to figure out what to do after the team won the title.

The difference between an ordinary team and a powerful team is that the former will become complacent after winning the championship, relax their requirements, lose the will to defend the title, and lose full preparation for greater challenges, as well as the tenacious fighting spirit to face greater difficulties. The entire team loses the best time window and can only shine briefly like a flash in the pan, and cannot dominate the world for a long time.

What will the giants do? Ferguson also has experience. His Aberdeen team once became the third pole of Scotland.

From winning the title to defending the title, from a single title to a double title, from being strong to becoming stronger, everything Ferguson did for the Red Devils, whether it was spiritual mobilization, tactical polishing, strict training, or outstanding signings, as well as bold attempts to promote youth training, the command decisions during the long league period were all extremely critical.

This Red Devils team truly had the confidence to dominate in troubled times, and had a unique style that was growing day by day. Ferguson left a mark on the team, his thoughts influenced the team, and his pursuit became the team's goal. The Red Devils team showed a unique quality that was different from the defending teams in history. This quality was different from other Premier League teams, with an incomparable hunger and never-satisfied spirit, a bravery that surpassed the past, and a more aggressive fighting spirit.

This is Fergie's Red Devils.

The Red Devils have a distinct temperament and the players have strong personalities. Ferguson has led the team for many years and has profoundly influenced the spirit of the team. Whether it is the hair dryer in the locker room or the jumping on the sidelines; whether it is the ruthless killing of the youth training gems or the desperate insistence on surviving the crisis of being fired, Ferguson has injected the genes he wants into the Red Devils. This is Ferguson's greatest contribution to the Red Devils, and it is known as the "Red Devils Way" style. Without this style, the Red Devils will be difficult to distinguish from other teams and will not maintain its special status and image in the hearts of fans.

What is the Way of the Red Devil?

First of all, it is the strong and incomparable enterprising spirit. The Red Devils are always pursuing victory and are never satisfied. Not only that, the Red Devils also pursue victory in the scene. Win, and win with a grand, positive and vigorous momentum. Ferguson has always held high the banner of active attack, regardless of whether football has become more utilitarian and more conservative. The Red Devils' style of play is to bring out the beauty of attack to the fullest. They will do whatever it takes to get 3 points, whether it is a fierce collision or an offensive determination under any circumstances, sharp, direct, and straight to the heart. No matter what opponent, no matter how strong the opponent is, the Red Devils will never be weak, will not be afraid before the battle, and will not surrender before the fight. Keane perfectly embodies this style: welcome to play football, and accompany in the fight! Many opponents who have been defeated at Old Trafford are convinced: the Red Devils did not give them opportunities, but only regretted that they failed to seize them.

Ferguson directed the Red Devils to play many classic games. In the past two seasons, the Red Devils had to face the rivalry of Liverpool and suppress the new talents who were unwilling to accept it. They played various wonderful games in the long season. The Red Devils' games have a distinct feature, that is, the passion for attack never changes, and the determination to pursue victory never changes. The model of football, the Red Devils in the past two seasons have strong viewing value. They are good at passing, cutting, penetration, high-handed shooting, long-range shots from dead balls and personal breakthroughs. The Red Devils have both strong integrity and gorgeous individual performances in the game. Ferguson injected faith, fighting spirit and discipline into the players' minds, forging a powerful Red Devils team with excellent speed, strength, technology and tacit understanding. The four factors overlap and support each other.

The Red Devils' games are representative of offense, which can attract countless fans. Ferguson's dictionary does not have any idea of ​​​​doing everything for victory. On the contrary, they fight bravely for a comeback even when they are behind and losing. The Red Devils' games are often open and powerful; they often attack continuously and repeatedly. Even in the last minute of the game, the Red Devils' players will try their best to win.

Full of confidence and passion; fighting for victory and never satisfied, this is the Red Devils with Ferguson's imprint!

The Red Devils are truly loved by the fans and are actually praised by Ferguson. In the past two seasons, the Red Devils have not changed much. The main goalkeeper, Danish goalkeeper Schmeichel, has become domineering enough to scare the opponent's forwards. The one-on-one shots he saved in the past two years and his miraculous reactions in front of the goal at critical moments have proved that he is the best goalkeeper in the Premier League. The pair of central defenders in the back four are known as the strongest in the history of the Red Devils. The iron combination of Bruce and Pallister is difficult to break through, and there is no need to worry about the left side guarded by Irwin - three of the four defenders are candidates for the best in the Premier League. The four forwards are basically lined up in a row, and the two wingers are extremely sharp. Kanchelskis and Giggs or Lee Sharpe lead the Red Devils' wing attack, while Keane and Ince's coverage and interception power are unmatched in the Premier League. Cantona is the key to the Red Devils' offense. His flexible running, sharp awareness, superb shooting skills, and active scoring... make the Red Devils' offense three-dimensional, which also allows Mark Hughes, who is paired with him, to play a greater role.

Under Cantona's command, the Red Devils' two-wing tactics defeated the Premier League opponents and made them flee at the first sign of trouble. This is the dominance brought by the strongest Red Devils. Under the classic 442 tactics, the Red Devils' players' brave fighting spirit and offensive play are also the inheritance of the traditions and genes carried by the Red Devils in the distant history, and the inheritance and development of the Red Devils' traditional ways. This is the Red Devils' rebirth.

In addition to the traditional 442 tactics that football critics love to talk about, which was promoted by Ferguson, many coaches have actually begun to notice that while Ferguson insisted on attacking from the flanks, he effectively activated the offense and defense in the center of the midfield.

Ferguson brought in Keane this season, and Cantona, the frontcourt commander, continued to maintain his good form, which gave Ferguson plenty of space to try to advance through the middle and press the defense.

Last season, Ferguson made good use of Cantona. The French striker's position in the middle was not one of the two strikers familiar to the English defenders, nor was he the center forward that the English central defenders liked. Instead, he was slightly behind the forward Mark Hughes, playing the role of a shadow striker who was responsible for dribbling the ball, planning attacks and free shooting.

Ferguson's move made the Premier League at a loss at the time. Other teams were caught in a dilemma between offense and defense and were defeated one after another. In this season, Keane's joining further liberated Cantona and awakened the offensive desire of another central midfielder, Ins. This season, the Red Devils no longer rely solely on Cantona to retreat and receive the ball before advancing. With Keane's support in the backcourt, Ins, McClair, and Kanchelskis can all help, and Ins can make a difference in the opponent's backcourt, giving full play to the role of counter-attacking and active advancement on the spot, effectively stimulating Ins' ability to charge forward.

The two sides were active and the middle was more oppressive and sharp. The Red Devils were full of offensive desire and were always attacking or preparing to attack.

This Red Devils team conquered the Premier League opponents and fans in the stadium, as well as fans outside the stadium. In this Red Devils team, we can see the clear inheritance and development of tradition. Not only that, through youth training, the Red Devils' history accumulation also shines brightly in the new generation of young players. This is a new interpretation of the Red Devils' traditional way of victory, the real power and secret of the Red Devils.

Tough, fast, concise, direct, confrontational, and integrated - this is the new Red Devils created by Ferguson himself, and he personally left an indelible mark on this team. Never be satisfied, never give up, keep fighting, and keep fighting. This is the style of the Red Devils team that Ferguson painstakingly determined after more than 6 years of hard work; defense is the cornerstone, offense is the soul, youth training is the foundation, fierce players are the pioneers, and superstars are the winners. This is the idea that Ferguson determined for the construction and reorganization of the Red Devils in his continuous exploration, and it is also the correct direction that the Red Devils need to move forward for continuous progress; strengthening the wing, increasing speed, overall pressure, strengthening conversion, simple routines, and flexible offense are the tactical paths that Ferguson explored for more than 6 years before basically finalizing;

The Red Devils were truly labeled with Ferguson's label.

As Gary said many years later: "The boss's favorite team is actually the Red Devils from the 92 to 94 season with Cantona, Keane, Bruce and Robson. That team did not have the proud record of the 99 Treble, but I understand why - this team has a strong temperament, is positive and brave and has a strong will, is powerful but behaves well. Their style of play on the field is exactly the same as their behavior off the field, which is motivated, full of power and simple beauty. They reflect the pursuit and characteristics of the head coach. This team won the championship not only by ability, but also by the temperament of the team."