DubaiSpur
Ian Walker
If I were Poch, I'd turn the players to the television, to the radio, to the football pages of the major newspapers. All jubilantly live-tweeting Leicester's triumph, all desperately willing us to fail from the first minute onwards. All ready to savagely cheer a team of young, spirited, likeable footballers being beaten by a team of odious c*nts to spin their own narratives, further their own causes, vindicate their own repudiation of their jaded natures.
'GOAL! CHELSEA LEVEL! SPURS THROW IT AWAY! LEICESTER WITHIN TOUCHING DISTANCE! YES, IT *IS* HAPPENING!'
If I were Poch, I'd make them watch it all.
And then I'd tell them to never forget this.
Never forget how the media turned on you.
Never forget how the football world willed you to lose.
Never forget how the officials, referees, opposing players, everyone involved in the professional game...never forget how ready they were to help Leicester over the line, even if it meant ruthlessly f*cking over a young, talented side trying to challenge the Premier League's anointed golden boys.
Never forget.
Sir Alex Ferguson instilled the greatest siege mentality the game had ever seen at Manchester United. Everyone, no matter their motivations, ceased to matter outside Old Trafford and the covenant of United fans, players and staff once the season had begun. The football world could go hang, and not a single thing they tried to do or say would filter through to a team of players who genuinely believed the world was against them, and who went out wanting to do nothing more than coldly, professionally secure the titles and triumphs that mattered to them...and sod the rest of the world. They could go choke on their bitterness for all the players and staff cared. United was what mattered. All else was ephemeral.
Today, the players have an opportunity to embrace that mentality, and I hope Poch makes them imbibe it.
Never forget how a world that praised you three weeks ago eagerly awaited your latest stumble now, so you didn't disturb the season-long narrative.
And learn to tell the world to sod off in return.
'GOAL! CHELSEA LEVEL! SPURS THROW IT AWAY! LEICESTER WITHIN TOUCHING DISTANCE! YES, IT *IS* HAPPENING!'
If I were Poch, I'd make them watch it all.
And then I'd tell them to never forget this.
Never forget how the media turned on you.
Never forget how the football world willed you to lose.
Never forget how the officials, referees, opposing players, everyone involved in the professional game...never forget how ready they were to help Leicester over the line, even if it meant ruthlessly f*cking over a young, talented side trying to challenge the Premier League's anointed golden boys.
Never forget.
Sir Alex Ferguson instilled the greatest siege mentality the game had ever seen at Manchester United. Everyone, no matter their motivations, ceased to matter outside Old Trafford and the covenant of United fans, players and staff once the season had begun. The football world could go hang, and not a single thing they tried to do or say would filter through to a team of players who genuinely believed the world was against them, and who went out wanting to do nothing more than coldly, professionally secure the titles and triumphs that mattered to them...and sod the rest of the world. They could go choke on their bitterness for all the players and staff cared. United was what mattered. All else was ephemeral.
Today, the players have an opportunity to embrace that mentality, and I hope Poch makes them imbibe it.
Never forget how a world that praised you three weeks ago eagerly awaited your latest stumble now, so you didn't disturb the season-long narrative.
And learn to tell the world to sod off in return.
