Forlan has the last laugh as critics fall silent
The standard of Alex Ferguson's sides may have varied down the years, but total conviction in their ability to win football matches has never wavered.
It is the same with the players.
Bryan Robson, Peter Schmeichel, Eric Cantona, Roy Keane every one of them completely focused, driven on an insatiable desire for success and to wring every ounce of talent from their bodies.
Now is the time to make another addition to that impressive list.
His name may not evoke the same whimsical sighs from the Old Trafford faithful, but there is no doubting the strength of Diego Forlan's character.
In Ferguson's 17-year stint at United, few of his players have been subjected to the amount of personal abuse Forlan took in the 12 months which followed his stg£7million move from Independiente.
The South American was ridiculed for his failure to score, lambasted for his peripheral contribution to the United cause and largely written-off as a no-hoper.
A year on and the critics have been silenced. It is Forlan having the mighty last laugh.
"I have always said that if you play and have 90 minutes on the pitch it makes all the difference," said the amiable Uruguayan.
"It is better than coming off the bench and now my confidence is really high."
So confident was Ferguson in Forlan's ability to lead the United attack that he allowed Ruud van Nistelrooy the luxury of a rare evening off in Athens on Wednesday night as his side secured qualification for the Champions League knock-out stage with a 1-0 win over Panathinaikos.
The 24-year-old repaid his manager's faith by firing home the winning goal five minutes from time.
It was his fifth goal in his last six starts and the 14th of a United career in which 50 of his 80 appearances have come off the bench.
The scoring burst has delighted his manager, who freely admitted he faces a selection dilemma ahead of Sunday's Barclaycard Premiership showdown with Chelsea.
"Whenever you buy a young player, you know you are not getting the finished article. What you have is potential," said Ferguson.
"When we signed Diego we had just lost Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham and we were looking for a young striker.
"He has established himself now. Sometimes, tactically we prefer to play one man behind a central striker, but the form he has shown recently, it is difficult to leave him out," he added.
Forlan admits he does not know whether he will start at Stamford Bridge, as United square up to a side who also confirmed their entry into the last 16 of Europe's most prestigious competition last night.
However, with Van Nistelrooy and Keane both due to return on Sunday, the odds are heavily stacked against.
Now, though, all eyes are turned towards Sunday and the meeting between the Premiership establishment and the cash-rich pretenders.
And Forlan acknowledged the importance of the capital trip can hardly be overstated.
"It's getting tough at the top, so we need to win every game," he said.
"Chelsea are playing well and winning games, so we must follow. When you have the chance to play against them, you have to take some points away.
"I'm not surprised at their form so far this season. They have a big strong squad, full of quality players," added Forlan.
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