OBVIOUS & DISTRESSING

Last updated : 10 May 2004 By editor
'Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United career was launched via an FA Cup final, speeding like a glorious comet across the Nineties but now threatens to come back down to earth after an FA Cup final.
United remain a great football institution, an immense emotional force in millions of lives, but the fallen champions' decline is as obvious as it is distressing.
United's priorities have sunk so disappointingly that on Saturday Ferguson was forced to protect Paul Scholes in a League game to keep him safe for Cup combat, a complete reversal of the Scot's usual, title-obsessed, philosophy. United's season has come down to ensuring Scholes is available to deal with Millwall.
One tiny snap-shot here coloured in the big picture of United's slide behind Chelsea for the right to be Arsenal's main rivals. Scholes clattered Frank Lampard and was fortunate the visitors' midfield catalyst jumped quickly to his feet as Steve Bennett reached for what would have been a second yellow. Ferguson, sensing Scholes was running out of lives, removed him from the fray as dismissal would have brought suspension from Cardiff.
Domestic cups make fun days out but club reputations are forged from championships and European excursions. Securing another Premiership title will demand a Herculean response from Ferguson, given the human assets of Arsenal and financial resources of Chelsea. United now journey through a period of real uncertainty, including qualifying for the Champions League. At least their supporters had the good grace to applaud Chelsea off.'