Manchester United struck a trademark late goal to see off Swansea as Sir Alex Ferguson signed off in his last match at Old Trafford with a win.
Rio Ferdinand smashed home a loose ball in the 87th minute to provide a fitting end as Ferguson brought the curtain down on his 26-year reign at the Theatre of Dreams with a touching speech after the final whistle in which he described managing United as the ‘greatest experience’ of his life.
There was also a defiant message in support of the man that will succeed him as he demanded the club, players and fans give their full backing to David Moyes should he encounter any bumps in the road just as he did when he first took charge in November 1986.
Emerging from the tunnel, through a guard of honour, to the combined strains of Nat King Cole’s ‘Unforgettable’ and ‘The Impossible Dream’ from Frank Sinatra, the narrative was set for an emotional afternoon in the red half of Manchester. But even with retirement on the horizon Ferguson proved himself ever the hard-knuckled disciplinarian as he left Wayne Rooney out completely following his refusal to play and subsequent transfer request.
Paul Scholes, also retiring at the end of the season, was in Ferguson’s final Old Trafford lineup as the hosts started in rousing fashion with Javier Hernandez striking the underside of the crossbar early on before seeing a header deflected wide and Robin Van Persie force Gerhard Tremmel into a low save.
The goal did finally come six minutes before the break as the usually reliable Ashley Williams made a mess of his clearance and Hernandez’s viper instinct were tickled as he pounced and punished the Swansea captain by sweeping the ball into the net. The south Wales club emerged from the break intent on spoiling the party and they levelled within four minutes as Michu nipped in front of Phil Jones to brilliantly flick home Nathan Dyer’s cross to register his 19th league goal of an extraordinary campaign.
Jones then atoned by valiantly blocking Chico Flores’ shot with his chest as United revved back up as they sought to regain their advantage with Anderson lashing a volley narrowly wide just after his introduction from the substitutes bench. But it was left to Ferdinand to gift his manager a final victory at Old Trafford by lashing in from close range to register his first goal in five-and-a-half years.
Sir Alex Ferguson post-match… “Everyone at the club and you the fans have been the most fantastic experience of my life. Thank you. I have been very fortunate to manage some of the greatest players in the country. These players have won the championship in fantastic fashion. Well done to them.”
Michael Laudrup post-match…”I said to them, it’s a celebration it’s a special game. For us it was a game where we could just relax, we have done what we should this season. We’re ninth and we will stay there and we’ve won a cup, so it’s been a fantastic year for us.”
Man of the Match…Paul Scholes: In his final ever game for Manchester United before retirement the Ginger Prince served up one more exhibition of his reverent passing index. Exited just after the hour mark to a standing ovation. An unchallenged master of his craft for almost two decades.
Flop of the Match…Wayne Rooney: Can we choose someone that didn’t even want to be on the pitch? Of course we can! Rooney’s putrid insolence threatened to cast a dark cloud over Sir Alex Ferguson’s farewell celebration to the Old Trafford crowd and thankfully he was left to rot in the background. Joined in with the presentation of the Premier League trophy, fully kitted, mind.
