Cristiano Ronaldo is said by many to be the driving force behind United's success - but aren't they really a team of all-stars?
'They can boast the best wide player in the world, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s goals have propelled United to another plane'
There is no way that anyone could possibly claim that Manchester United are a one-man team. They are a side flooded with stars, swamped with skilful players, and proliferated with genius.
I don’t think that it would be possible for a team such as United, who have been there or thereabouts in the Premier League for well over a decade, to have the levels of success that they have achieved without a good team.
One-man teams are to be found at the bottom of the League, teams that rely on one star to pull them out of the mire. Manchester United have a large dynasty of success, something that couldn’t be formed on the back of one good player.
They can boast the best wide player in the world, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s goals have propelled United to another plane. But when you focus the spotlight on each individual area of the Old Trafford side you realise that they are littered with glittering players; players who might well have started out as a so-called one-man band.
Look at Rio Ferdinand, a glorious defender who, when he keeps his concentration, is easily one of the best defenders in the world with his imperious style and impressive technique. Carlos Tevez, at the other end of the pitch is a South American phenomenon – commonly regarded as the future of the Argentine team – and from last year’s display at West Ham, he was the jewel in their crown.
Wayne Rooney is still a bullish man-boy with a wealth of skills at his disposal, who could forget his hat-trick debut for Man Utd against Fenerbache in the Champions League – even now there is much moaning and wailing when Rooney is absent from the United team.
Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, the two supreme elder statesmen of the United team, are also glorious players with Scholes’ touch and legendary knack for getting in the box just at the right time, and Giggs' supreme dribbling skills, superior – in my opinion – to even the worshipped Ronaldo.
My point is that United could never be described as simply a one man team. That is the jealous knee-jerk response to Ronaldo’s brilliance – an attempt to belittle a wonderful and fluid team.
Just look at their interchangeable striking trio and you see that they aren’t reliant on one player alone. Manchester United are a team of stars, not a one trick pony.
Do you think United are a one-man team? Post your comments below.