‘All we can do is do our job and hope’

AS inspirational speeches go, Alex Ferguson’s pre-match encouragement for his slumping Manchester United players had some way to go to match Alf Ramsey at the 1966 World Cup Final, but, as veteran defender Gary Neville revealed, it was still sufficient to catapult his team back into title contention.

Tottenham’s victory over Chelsea was a vital factor, of course, but, following league disappointments against Carlo Ancelotti’s team and Blackburn, plus a European exit to Bayern Munich, Ferguson’s challenge to his playing staff prior to their dramatic derby victory over City was perfectly judged.

“The manager asked us before the game: ‘Do you want to win this title?’” explained Neville. “It may sound an obvious thing to ask, but the answer is yes, of course we do want to do that.