«Una brutta persona!»

How often I have met in my life a question «What is your favorite football match? Indeed, the majority of people will remember some mainstream matches like Champion’s league final in Istanbul when Liverpool showed us a bit of magic, recent Brazilian disgrace in the World Cup Semifinals or even Zenit’s 4-0 victory over Bayern Munich. Undoubtedly, these are matches, which will stick to the memory for the whole life, but in no way I can call any of them the very best one in my life. As a meter of fact, I have a very certain position on this issue, because there was a match that simply changed me – my view on the game, football preferences and even approach to life challenges. Probably have already intrigued readers, thus without any further delay I proclaim that the very best match I have ever seen in my life is a clash between Manchester and Arsenal in the nice old season 2004/05. This match is also remembered as “the Battle of Old Trafford II” or “the Battle of Buffet”.

Quick summery to refresh the memory and emotions. A season 2003/04 was won by Arsenal without a single defeat, which is a remarkable achievement I dare to say. Thus, they were entitled “Invincible” and they started season 2004/05 with the same vigor and confidence. When on 24th of October Arsenal came to Old Trafford, they had already had 49 undefeated games in their pocket, so it could be they 50th game in row. At the same time, Man United was extremely unstable and had a reconstructions period when the old leaders left and new young talents just came to the club (as far as I remember Manchester was 8th in the league at this moment). Then the battle happened! I know that journalist like to compare any match with the slight tackling with battle, but that was truly a war. Probably the very possibility that Arsenal might celebrate 50th undefeated game on the Devil’s pitch was utterly unacceptable to everyone in United.

Now we need to refer to some football philosophy. It so happens that some people appreciate in football only beauty of strikes, passes and combinations. Unfortunately, one of these people is Arsene Wenger (a genius and very respected couch by me). He always acted as if everyone else had to stop and just enjoy how his boys are playing, especially in the period of the Great Arsenal. Probably his sophisticated nature made him act in this way. Actually, it would work perfectly well and Arsenal would prosper, however, football was not only “strikes, passes and combinations”. Brutality and physical force are two more equally essential parts of football that have always been ignored by Mr Wenger.

Coming back to the match, Sir Alex understood that Manchester stood no chances to outplay Arsenal in playing beautiful football, so he made the only correct decision to break Arsenal as physically as mentally. Gary Neville wrote about this in his autobiography, “It’s the only match when I’ve ever been accused of brutalizing an opponent. So let me first make it clear that in almost twenty years at United the manager never asked me to kick anyone. I’ve no idea if other managers have issued instructions to “take out” a player, but I can promise you that wasn’t our boss’s style. But did he tell us to get tight, put a foot in and let Arsenal know they were in for a battle? Of course he did.” And so the match began! It was probably the most brutal match I’ve seen on such a high football level. Gary Neville particularly gave really hard time to Reyes and poor bloke was substituted in the halftime. There was not much football to describe, but overall atmosphere was boiling. I have no idea how it finished up without red cards.

Arsenal didn’t stand a chance this night. Wenger was enraged afterwards. So his players were. But what he was expecting, if he was not prepared to face strength. It caused a lot of arguments and discussion after too, but it mattered nothing. The only thing, which really mattered, was that Manchester won. You can call this approach too pragmatic or even cynical, but look at the number of trophies won over last decade and they’ll say you a lot.

Manchester not just won the match, they dethroned Arsenal and as you know London team won’t win a trophy in 10 years after this match. You can say that I am exaggerating and Arsenal has had a set of other problems, which led the team downwards. Indeed, they had, but for me it still looks like that night Ferguson invented a universal antidote for beating Arsenal, which all other teams used ever since. Take as an example the last match between Arsenal and Chelsea – utterly proves my idea!

Now I want to be absolutely clear, it is not about my love to United. Before this match, I hardly had any certain club preferences. Besides, Physical approach has always been a useful tool in the arms of great teams. Remember Mourinho’s Inter or even in Galacticos Real Madrid squad there were Makelele, Mcmanaman and Hierro who could give hard time to any offence. If we go even further, it is probably what made Barcelona the best team of the decade. They were a team of dwarfs who were not afraid to be bullied (a kind of the Hobbit story). Because you can brutalize only those who allow you to do so and mentally bend under your strength. None of Barcelona’s players even indulged opponents in this kind of game, plus they always had they own tough guys in middlefield and defense – Davids, Puyol or Cocu.

In conclusion, I just want to say that this match was important in many ways, which I have tried to show you above. For me as for a fan of Manchester, it was also one more time when Sir Alex overplayed another great opponent (as It has been with Liverpool, Chelsea, City, even Blackburn Rovers and Leeds). Manchester has always found the ways to overcome a new rising opponent.

PS

It is truly a great clash of two big clubs and football minds. The story does not stop only on this game, there were other extremely brutal games before and after in the period between 2002 and 2005. When people saying El classic or Rome derby to be tough I also remember Arsenal-Manchester games and honestly miss them. Modern football has become too polished by advertising, agents and PR managers. Back there on October 25, there were no thoughts about image or outfit; there were just a bunch of savages struggling for victory by all means allowed.