The Libero - Ominous United demonstrate strength in depth

Published: 09 Dec 2009 - 08:15:47

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It's no secret that a team's ability to cope with loss of players, either through injury or suspension, can make or break a season.

Strength in depth is crucial to a team's chances of winning silverware, make no mistake.

That tests are thrown up every now and then is inevitable, and every club's squad can expect to be examined at some stage over the course of a long, hard season.

But to be missing 15 players at one time? That borders on the ridiculous. Yet that is exactly what Manchester United had to deal with ahead of their final Champions League group stage match at Wolfsburg.

How they coped was hugely impressive - and rather ominous for their rivals.

- Wolfsburg 1-3 Manchested Utd
- Champions League results

This was not just a couple of star players out, a handful of defenders or the manager's first-choice strikeforce. Injuries ruled out a total of 13 players, including pretty much an entire senior backline, while registration issues led to the loss of a further defender and a seasoned veteran was rested.

No Wayne Rooney. No Dimitar Berbatov. No Edwin van der Sar. No Rio Ferdinand or Nemanja Vidic. No Jonny Evans or John O'Shea. In fact, no recognised centre-back at all.

While most other clubs would have struggled to send out 11 players at all, United dug deep into their vast resources and merely shuffled their talented pack.

Nearly as noticeable as the absence of so many players on the pitch was the lack of any pre-match bleating, moaning or complaining about the situation from Old Trafford.

Commendably, there were no ready-made excuses set to be wheeled out in case of defeat, just an acceptance that these things can happen in football and a determination to see it through.

Perhaps that was a reflection of Alex Ferguson's faith in his squad players, but whatever the reason, it was refreshing to see. Rafa Benitez take note.

And how they saw it through, with an unfamiliar United side, featuring a back three marshalled by Michael Carrick - the new Franz Beckenbauer, no less - beating the German champions 3-1 in their own back yard.

United may already have qualified from Group B prior to the match in Germany, but the result may yet prove to be a significant one in the course of the season.

Not only did confirm their status as group winners - thereby handing them an all-important home match in the second leg of their next tie - but it also provided proof, if it were needed, that United's resources are rich enough to deal with even the most adverse situation.

And, of course, it served to remind us all of Michael Owen's instinct for goal. The man is a natural born goalscorer, plain and simple, and one who may yet be of use to England at next summer's World Cup.

Certainly, the clamour for his inclusion in Fabio Capello's squad will intensify after his 'perfect' hat-trick downed Wolfsburg, although whether he goes or not to South Africa is a discussion to be saved for nearer the time.

In the meantime, Ferguson can revel in the luxury of being able to rely on Owen's services as and when required at club level. And with that kind of player on call, United, despite their apparent problems, find themselves in rude health heading towards the New Year, a time when traditionally they only get stronger. Ominous indeed.

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