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19 March 2024

Van Persie magic seals 20th Premier League title for Man United

Published
By Staff with Agencies

Manchester United reclaimed their Premier League crown in style on Monday as Robin van Persie's hat-trick inspired a 3-0 win over Aston Villa that gave them an unassailable 16-point lead over Manchester City and erased the pain of last season.

Van Persie's goals after two, 13 and 33 minutes - the second among the best ever scored at Old Trafford - propelled Alex Ferguson's side to a record-extending 20th league title in front of a jubilant home crowd.

After the hurt of having their crown snatched away by Manchester City on goal difference in stoppage time on the final day of the 2011-12 season, United were determined to make sure of the title with four games to spare.

"When you lose the title it's hard to take it, the way we did (last year) it was not a nice feeling," forward Wayne Rooney, who set up two of the goals in a performance that went some way to answering his recent critics, told Sky Sports.

"So we've all dug in deep, we've all worked together and done fantastic to get ourselves into this position and tonight we finished the job off."

With the championship guaranteed, United still have much to play for as they aim for 96 points to beat the record points total of 95 set by Chelsea in 2004-05.

With United's tally currently on 84 points, Ferguson's side remain on target to overhaul Chelsea's record provided they win their four remaining games.

Monday's win earned the club and Ferguson, who has now won 49 club trophies in his managerial career, a 13th Premier League title.

"I'm so proud of everything I've achieved. I don't get carried away, I don't look back, only look forward," he told MUTV.

"There is no reason why we can't go on and improve for next year."

STRANGE PLACES

Ferguson, who has secured some of his 13 championships in strange places over the years including at the gym, on the golf course and while watching snooker, would agree nothing beats doing it at Old Trafford with "champions" ringing out.

Fans had already stocked up on T-shirts, scarves and flags emblazoned with "20" before the game knowing they were unlikely to need a refund and their faith was justified with less than 90 seconds on the clock.

Rooney's diagonal ball from his own half found Antonio Valencia on the right wing and the Ecuadorian passed to Rafael who crossed to Ryan Giggs with the 39-year-old pulling the ball back for Van Persie to tap in with ease.

The Dutchman could have scored a second a minute later when he volleyed just over, while Rafael hit the post before Van Persie produced a candidate for goal of the season to double their lead in the 13th minute.

Another superb pass from Rooney from just inside his own half set up Van Persie for an exquisite left-foot volley from just outside the box that flew past helpless Villa keeper Brad Guzan and into the net.

His third, on 33 minutes, again involved Giggs who was fed by Shinji Kagawa before finding Van Persie in the box. The Dutchman had time to shift the ball on to his left foot before sending it in off the post for his 24th league goal of the season making him the league's top scorer.

"The important thing was to win the game and we won the game. It was great to score so early," Van Persie told Sky Sports.

"I feel very happy, but it's weird you know, I have waited so long for my first title - but it's a great feeling."

FULL SWING

Villa, desperate for damage limitation in their relegation battle, did a better job of containing United in the second half and Van Persie was called on to demonstrate his worth at the other end of the field with a headed clearance off the line.

Kagawa missed a chance to give United a fourth, inexplicably firing high and wide, but that will be forgotten as the party gets into full swing.

United's players will not get their hands on the trophy for another three weeks as it will not be presented until their final home match of the season against Swansea City on May 12.

United, who have 84 points to City's 68 with their neighbours having played one game fewer, head to Arsenal in their next match on Sunday where they can continue the party in front of Van Persie's former team mates.

ENJOY TONIGHT

Asked what he thought about going back to the Emirates as a champion with United, Van Persie replied: "Let us enjoy tonight first."

It was fitting that the goals came from the man whose hot form has driven United's season.

His arrival in the close season from Arsenal was a signal that Ferguson would be true to his vow that his side would never again miss out because they had not scored enough goals.

Van Persie's treble against a young Aston Villa team, who remain a perilous three points above the relegation zone with some damage to their goal difference, took him above Liverpool's Luis Suarez on top of the scoring charts.

The debate will rage over where this United team fits in among Ferguson's great sides of the past, with this crop sometimes criticised for not living up to the likes of the 1994 double-winners or 1999 treble winners.

There will be few, however, that would argue about Van Persie's place among the Old Trafford greats.

MATCH STATS

Manchester United 3 Aston Villa 0

Robin Van Persie 2"
Robin Van Persie 13"
Robin Van Persie 33"

HT 3-0

FULL TIME

Manchester United defeat Aston Villa 3-0 .

90" Two minutes added to full time and United press on with Giggs shooting a long range ball to Rafael who finds Van Persie but he is heavily marked and the threat is difussed.

89" Carrick attempt on goal is shot out by Westwood.

87" As the clock races to full time Rafael is on the ball and is quickly dispossed earning United a corner.

85" United look to further widen the gap with counter attacks, failing to yeild any results.

82" Villa claw back fiercely with Clark and Ahmadi creating chances in the box but United quickly wins over the ball.

80" Joe Bennett replaced by Ciaran Clark in aticipation of a quick goal for Villa.

77" Shinji Kagawa in front of box fails to slot home firing the ball over the crossbar to the dismay of Sir Ferguson.

75" Villa fight desperately to pull back a goal which certainly will be beneficial.

72" Rooney being pulled out with the crowd giving him a standing ovation. New man in Danny Welback takes up his position.

71" Rooney takes a another corner lofting the ball to Evans whose backflip shot misses the mark.

68" Giggs attempts a solo run into the danger area but is quickly checked by Lowton.

66" Gabriel Agbonlahor lofts the ball to Matthew Lowton who feeds Andreas Weimann, who send the ball curling off the face of the post.

63" United in the attack with Shinji Kagawa on the ball but he is dispossesed by Baker who sets the ball to the right flank for Ahmadi.

60" Christian Benteke and Andreas Weimann step up the attack in teh danger zone but carrick is quick to diffuse the threat.

57" United have Van Persie yet in action with Evra setting up a long cross in front but the ball fails to land anywhere close to the prolific scorer.

54" Karim El Ahmadi replacement for Charles N'Zogbia has boosted Villa's attack, but the Red Devils are not prepared to give up their lead.

52" Evra given a final warning after a dangerous tackle on Weimann.

49" Villa almost reduced the margin with David Gea fumbling under the bar but Van Persie heads off the danger.

46" Corner for United with the cross to Rooney being dislodged by the Villa defence.

HALF TIME

45" The added two minutes has intensified the attack by United, but no goals added at the blow of the half time whistle.

44" As the clock races to the half time mark Villa attempt to pull back a goal with Ashley Westwood scripting moves in the midfield.

41" Gabriel Agbonlahor slams a Christian Benteke pass missing the target by a whisker.

40" Giggs and Kagawa coordinate well to once again but the ball is won over by Delph who lofts it upfront.

37" United have simply put the match out of reach in the first half with Van Persie executing well in the strikers role. The red devils continue to hunt for more goals with Evra and Kagawa and Giggs moving the ball around.

32 GOAL! van Persie shoots a fantastic ball beating Brad Guzan. The ball was played through excellently by Shinji Kagawa who was in a great position to shoot but sets the ball back to the Dutchman who hammers it in off the post.

28" Free kick! for Aston villa with Ashley Westwood taking the freekick with Joe heading it off play.

27" Evra given the yellow card and a free kick awarded to Villa .

24" The Red Devils torment Villa with Rafael, Patrice Evra and Michael Carrick tapping the ball around.

21" Andreas Weimann fails to latch on to the ball with United winning the ball with Rafael and Rooney once again in the attack.

19" Fabian Delph in a desperate bid shoots the ball upfront with the ball landing in the no mans zone.

16" United are all fired up with the shell shocked Aston Villa reeling yet again with van Persie doing the big damage twice. 

13" GOAL! Van Persie has done it again for United with Rooney setting up the ball in the left flank with van Persie darting towards Brad Guzan and beats him with a lofted volley sending the ball into the net.

6" Charles N'Zogbia misses the mark for Aston Villa with a sure

4"  The Red Devils regroup with Van Persie again in the thick of action .

3"  Aston Villa stunned but counter attack with Asley Westwood getting on top of the ball to set up Ron Vlaar, but the ball is far off the mark for Vlaar.

2"  GOAL! Michael Carrick to Wayne Rooney who sets the ball for Rafael up in the box who flicks the ball to Robin Van Persie in front of Brad Guzan. Van Persie makes no mistake to tap in the ball beating the nonplussed keeper under the bars.

PREVIEW

Manchester United can seal a record 20th league title with four games to spare when they take on Aston Villa at Old Trafford tonight.

Probable Lineups


Manchester United                Aston Villa
4-2-3-1                                       4-2-3-1


Team News

Manchester United

Ashley Young has been ruled out for the rest of the season with the ankle injury he suffered against Manchester City.

Chris Smalling is a doubt with a knock, while the likes of Evans and Jones could return to the side.

Wayne Rooney's poor performance at West Ham could see the forward replaced, with Hernandez hoping to start .

Aston Villa

Ciaran Clark was fit enough to make the bench last time out and will hope to return to the side.

Gabby Agbonlahor should be back fit after missing the Fulham game with a hip injury.

Elsewhere the team is likely to remain unchanged, Gary Gardner is in line to make a return to the side before the end of the season.

BUILD UP

Sir Alex Ferguson has challenged Manchester United to win their remaining five games this season in a bid to beat Jose Mourinho's record points haul of 95 from his time at Chelsea.

The Premier League leaders can clinch a record-breaking 20th league crown with victory over Aston Villa tonight, but the Scot does not want his team to rest on their laurels and has eyes a 96-point total at the end of the season.
 
"It’s not beyond the team at all," said Sir Alex was reported as saying in the British media.

"If you’re asking if Manchester United can win five games in a row, well, how many times have we done that? So it’s not beyond us.

"The way we approach it is quite good and the response on Wednesday at West Ham was fantastic, at a ground that’s a difficult place to go to and with the way they play and put you under pressure with set-pieces.

"I think we’re proud of the players coming out of that and there won’t be any slacking off."

With United on the brink of taking the Premier League crown off Manchester City, Sir Alex believes his current crop easily match up to his previous title-winning squads.

However, Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini says his side are not inferior to Manchester United despite a 3-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur giving their rivals the chance to clinch the title with four games to spare.

"It's over, it was over three of four weeks ago," said Mancini.

"But (United) are not better than us. They deserve to win the title because we lost a lot of points in games we didn't deserve to lose but United have scored more goals."

With five games left, City are 13 points behind Manchester United.

"But 13 or 15 points, however many it is, is not true. It's not the reality for this championship," added Mancini.

"We wanted to win the championship but we didn't. We have to give congratulations to them but we don't have a gap to make up. In the last two or three years when we've played them we've always been better than them, even when we've lost the game."