[FM12] Manchester United - Sweeter After Difficulties

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Hello, and welcome to my first FM story in a few months. After resigning as a moderator earlier this year, I turned away from Football Manager and it's fansites and turned to FIFA, but having snooped around the site recently I saw something of a mini-revival in the stories section. I figured, what the heck? May as well contribute myself. I have recently ordered Football Manager 2012, which shall be arriving soon, and I will embark on a career and a story that will hopefully excite not only myself but you, the readers. Without further ado, let me begin.


The most successful club in English history, with 62 trophies to their name, the "Red Devils" are easily the most successful in the Premier League period. Under legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson, they won 12 league titles up to the end of 2010/11 season, where this story commences, and having competed in the 2011 Champions League final, can also be considered one of the best teams in Europe.


The greatest football manager of all time, Sir Alex Ferguson. Over a glorious 39 year period, beginning at East Stirlingshire and ending at Manchester United, the Scottish master won 2 UEFA Champions Leagues, 13 English Premier Leagues, 5 FA Cups, 3 Scottish Premier Leagues and many, many more trophies on his way to being knighted by the Queen, having a stand at Old Trafford named after him and a bronze statue made in his honour in front of the ground. This story could have no better manager.

YES! Nice to see you back at it mate

http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2011/12/08/1226217/012189-ferguson.jpg

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It was one of the worst losses in Ferguson's career.

His Manchester United side was thoroughly dismantled by a Barcelona side that he would later claim as "the best team ever to line up against my Manchester United sides." The 'wonderful little mites' Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta ran the show at Wembley Stadium and a sole equaliser from Wayne Rooney was not enough to stop Pep Guardiola and Eric Abidal from lifting the trophy at the end of the night. It was the second time Ferguson's Red Devils had fallen to the Catalans.

Ferguson admitted his side was well-beaten at the post match press conference.

"We were beaten by a fantastic team but I expected us to do better and I think in the end we were beaten by the better team. That's the best team we've ever faced – when you get teams who elevate themselves to that level it's difficult. I think we expected to play better. It's been a great season in many ways but it's just disappointing to come to Wembley twice [including the FA Cup semi-final defeat by Manchester City FC] and be beaten.

I think there's good evidence that we're a consistent European team now. Our record this season has been excellent but we were beaten by the best team in Europe and there's no shame in that."

The UEFA Champions League final was a low point that Ferguson intended to never reach again. The 2011/12 season is all about hope, redemption, and in the case of the Premier League, retention. Success is always sweeter after difficulties.

Sir Alex Ferguson:

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The motto of the Ferguson clan in Scotland is: 'Dulcious ex asperis', or, 'Sweeter after difficulties.' That optimism has served me well through my 37 years in football management. Over that time, from East Stirlingshire to Manchester United, I have seen beyond adversity to the success on the other side. The act of controlling vast change year after year was sustained by a belief that we would prevail over any challenger.

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The UEFA Champions League final today was the last time fans will ever see Edwin van der Sar pull on his goalie gloves as the 40 year old has announced his retirement from professional football. The 3-1 loss to Barcelona was not the ideal send-off but after 605 club appearances and 130 international caps, the Dutch goalkeeper has plenty of trophies and accolades to ease the pain.

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Making his debut for Ajax in 1990 under compatriot Louis van Gaal, van der Sar established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in Europe over 226 games for the Dutch champions. Crowned Europe's Best Goalkeeper in 1995, van der Saar could boast 4 Eredivisie titles and the 1996 Champions League by the time he made a switch to Italian giants Juventus. He was first team keeper until the arrival of Gianluigi Buffon, before going to Fulham and finally Manchester United where he was perhaps most famous. He added another Champions League medal (2008) to his collection, and was part of the intensely successful United side that won 4 Premier League titles in his stay.

Sir Alex Ferguson described him as the best goalkeeper at the club since Peter Schmeichel, and paid tribute to him during his post match interview at Wembley Stadium.

"Van der Sar has been a fantastic servant to United and we wish him well. He's had a great career and played with tremendous honour and great professionalism, and that's what stands out about him."

The Scottish manager will now search for a replacement for the Dutch keeper, with Tomas Kuszczak not expected to step into a first team capacity. David De Gea of Atletico Madrid, Manuel Neuer of Schalke 04 and Julio Cesar of Inter Milan are all being touted as possible replacements as Ferguson looks not to repeat the mistake he made with the departure of Schmeichel in 1999.

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FELIKS FELIKS FELIKS FELIKS FELIKS FELIKS FELIKS FELIKS FELIKS FELIKS

fmscout.com, brace yourselves.... we're in for a SUPER-STORY!

Meh!!!!!!!!!!

Why does everyone do a story with this club?????/

Meh!!!!!!!!!

Welcome back man

FM12. Interesting way to make this story happen. Will enjoy following, I'm sure!

Looking forward to this! Sir Alex was a great manager so it's good to see him make a return! As for Van Der Saar, United are losing a massive legend, great player (this is coming from an LFC fan) haha

good luck! good to see you back!

Should be really interesting to follow man! Shame it's with United though

Justice Not at all overhyping this

SooruSooru It's Fergie's United... had to have a go

MJK Cheers mate

tenthreeleader Thanks mate, I've never played 12 before so it should be fun

ScottT Yeah definitely, van der Sar is a big loss but we all know how good his replacement turned out to be!

IR Cheers bby :*

mgriffin The United hate is real

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FZ: "Hello viewers, my name is Feliks Zemdegs and today I'm sitting down with one of the all-time greats of football, the boy from Govan, the one and only - Sir Alex Ferguson. Fresh off the bus from London, after a disappointing loss to Barcelona, Sir Alex has so graciously lent us his time. Mr Ferguson, thank you for joining me."

SAF: "Not a problem."

FZ: "Now today we'll be discussing a few topics, including last season and the upcoming season, but I wanted to start off by asking you what you're doing in the aftermath of the loss just a few days ago?"

SAF: "After our second loss in the final to the same team, I had to ask: what is the problem here? Fact number one is that some of our players fell below the level they were capable of. A contributing factor might have been that we were accustomed to having most of the possession in games. When that transferred itself to the opposition it might have damaged our confidence and concentration. There is some credence in the theory that our players were unsettled by having to play a subservient role: even a player such as Giggs, or Ji-Sung Park, who, in the quarter final against Chelsea, tackled everybody and was up and down the pitch all day. We never saw him in that way against Barcelona."

FZ: "Going back now, to the domestic campaign just finished, did you put much emphasis on the fact you would be claiming a record breaking 19th title?"

SAF: "My view is that we would have passed Liverpool's haul of 18 championships at some point anyway, so there was no need to make a fuss about it. I wanted our attention focused on the campaign itself. But it was always something I felt we needed to achieve."

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http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/03288/2011-United-Getty_3288324k.jpg
Manchester United broke Liverpool's record of 18 league titles in 2010/11

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FZ: "Looking ahead, how do you fancy your chances this coming season?"

SAF: "I feel it's between us, City and Chelsea, in the league anyway. We've proven ourselves to be consistent in Europe as well. We have a good track record in the FA Cup, and the League Cup is always regarded now as a bonus tournament. But definitely, Manchester City looks to be dangerous. We know they are becoming the team, we have to beat. The danger no longer emanates from London or Merseyside. It's so close you can smell it. We'll continue down our path of building up strength for the future and hope it sees us through."

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Ferguson views his cross-town rivals as the biggest danger to the title

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FZ: "Any transfer targets identified as of yet?"

SAF: "Unfortunately I can't discuss transfers at this stage."

FZ: "I fully understand. One last question then. What more do you want to achieve before you retire?"

SAF: "That's a tough question, because we've already won everything there is to win. I guess my aim would be to leave a title-winning squad for my successor to inherit. Smalling and Evans are fantastic prospects. We have Fabio and Rafael, and Welbeck and Cleverley are coming through. Nani is 24, Rooney 25. We have a nucleus of young talent."

FZ: "OK, Mr Ferguson, that's it for our interview but thank you very much for joining me today. It's been an honour."

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I like the story idea here but hate the team ha, good luck with this and I hope City wipe the floor with you! haha

Hope City send you to the cleaners