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UNITED: Review: Nemanja Vidic

/noticias.info/ The former Belgrade boy is a rock in defence, and his play bears more than a passing resemblance to that of Brucey...

A Christmas Day delivery to Sir Alex Ferguson in 2005, Vidic is a Scrooge when it comes to giving away time and space and the scourge of opposing strikers across the continent.

The big Serbian has been a rock at the centre of the meanest defence in both the Premier League and the Champions League, and his partnership with Rio Ferdinand is increasingly proving to be the Noughties’ answer to the Nineties’ classic axis of Bruce and Pallister.

Such is Vida’s command of situations that his cautions were few and far between during 2007/08 – after two early-season bookings against Portsmouth and Sunderland, Nemanja’s name wasn’t taken down by a referee for another three months. His yellow cards were similarly scarce in the New Year, even when referee Alan Wiley was waving them to others left, right and centre in the 4-0 FA Cup victory over arch-rivals Arsenal.

That was another occasion when heavyweight visitors to Old Trafford went home empty-handed. Chelsea and Liverpool both failed to score against Vidic and co. on their league visits and although Adebayor did notch one for Arsenal, albeit with his arm, Vidic was absent that day as United came from
The ability to bounce back from injuries is becoming another part of the Steve Bruce tribute act. Three days after visiting a Barcelona hospital with a stomach bug, Vidic was souped up by a liquid diet and ready to demolish Didier Drogba’s dream of stealing the league title. The Chelsea striker struck the first blow at Stamford Bridge, however, with his knee abruptly ending the Serb’s return. Eight minutes into one of the season’s biggest games and Sir Alex had to adjust for the loss of a first-choice centre-back – not ideal, even when the replacement was of Wes Brown’s calibre.

Nemanja gained some stitches and lost a tooth; United lost the battle but won the war and it was testimony to Vidic’s vital role in this 10th title triumph that on the night after the Chelsea defeat, he was named in the PFA’s Team of the Season.

Vidic resumed rivalries with Drogba in the Luzhniki Stadium – his former home for Spartak Moscow – in the Champions League final. He delivered one of the all-time great final performances, virtually impassable apart from Frank Lampard’s ludicrously lucky strike just before half-time. Nevertheless it was an outstanding display from an outstanding player. One of Sir Alex’s finest ever finds. notas_de_prensa_archivo