Q & A with Letter of the Week winner Sunil Rai

When and why did you start supporting Manchester United?
I remember vividly the 1999 final. The 1st game I watched, not as a United fan, but as a curious sports fanatic, a mere onlooker. I have this tendency to support the so-called underdogs and this was the case in the 1999 final.

I recall my dad going off to sleep with 3 minutes to go but I was there clasping my hands offering every prayer I had, hoping fervently that a miracle materialises. And my God, it did. I don’t remember any moment in my life where I told myself, “OK I’ll support United”. It just happened.

It became an addiction. The charisma. The arrogance. The aura of invincibility. The ethics. The flamboyance. They had it all.

What is the most memorable football game you’ve watched and why?
Countless honestly. But the FA Cup final of 2006, when we lost in such fashion, will remain etched in my memory forever.

Yes we lost but we showed everyone what a team we were. We completely and utterly destroyed Arsenal. Bombarded them with countless shots, mesmerised the footballing fraternity with the way we tore through Arsenal defence with slick passes and a brilliant display of counter-attacking football.

Some say it all came to nothing and our profligacy was worth taking note but I tend to disagree. My friend said right after the match, after the initial taunts and teases,”take it easy dude. Hats off to Manchester United. They showed the world how to play football. You guys were absolutely brilliant. Real pity.”

I came across a encouraging comments on various websites and pundits alike applauded the brand of football we put on show. It made us proud. Defeat had never tasted sweeter.

If you can sign one player for Manchester United at the end of this season, who would it be and why?
Karim Benzema. If Tevez were to leave, we need another striker and there’s none out there available better than him, both technically and mentally. A very strong Rooney-esque striker but more clinical and technically gifted. Great feet, composed and big headed.

He is born to be at United really. Tevez has been outstanding but 30 odd million pounds is way too much for him. Otherwise, we have a great blend of youth and experience, as well as talented individuals and workhorses. United’s recipe for winning the league is perfecting the blend of players on the pitch. Ferguson has been spot on every time without question. He understand the rigours of the league, understand the talents of his players and above all trusts them.

I think the delay in negotiations shows that Ferguson is equivocal of the amount he has to pay to secure Tevez because at that exorbitant amount, or close to, a much more talented Benzema could grace the greens of Old Trafford.

Do you think Guus Hiddink will reverse Chelsea’s slide, and why?
Without doubt Guus Hiddink is the only person, other the the ‘Special One’ who could reverse the fortunes of Chelsea with the current crop of players. He is known for that isn’t he?

Masterminding South Korea’s and Australia’s World Cup heroics with average players, I think Guus Hiddink is a manager who is tactically astute as well as he has the temperament to handle egos, something that Scolari-the Mr Nice- didn’t. With the vast amounts of experience he has had in club and international level, there was absolutely no one else Roman could have chosen to give the players and the fans the much needed lift.

I’ve admired Hiddink because he corroborates the notion that a good manager makes a team even greater. Just see what has he done with the Russian national team at Euro08. As much as I detest Chelsea, particularly the bearded Russian, I sincerely hope that Hiddink manages to bring a silverware to the Bridge – I don’t mind relinquishing the final to him! Well, if they make it there in the 1st place. We will though, don’t worry.:P

Field your ideal starting XI for Man United’s FA Cup tie against Derby on Monday morning.
Lightning doesn’t strike twice. Well at least that’s what i have heard. But the English league in general has improved so dramatically that any away games must be taken with extra caution. Go all out i say!

VDS
Rafael
Vidic
Rio
Oshea
Carrick
Ronaldo
Giggs
Scholes
Tevez
Berbatov

Prepare for a drubbing!