When Van Nistelrooy’s goals got United their title back

The 2002-03 English Premier League title was won by Manchester United who, after surrendering their crown to Arsenal the previous season, relied on the brilliance of Ruud van Nistelrooy and Paul Scholes as an attacking tandem to put the Gunners back in their place.

Arsenal were strong enough to push United into the closing weeks of the season, but Sir Alex Ferguson’s side held on to finish on 83 points.

CHANGES

There was one transfer that dwarfed all others in the 2002 transfer window – Manchester United’s capture of Rio Ferdinand from Leeds for a fee of £30m, the record, at the time, for a defender.

It was United’s only piece of serious business but it was a statement of intent from Sir Alex Ferguson to sort out the defence that had proven so porous the season prior.

Ferdinand’s departure from Leeds was one of many in what proved to be a mass exodus on financial grounds at Elland Road. The club had spent beyond their means for too long, and prize assets were stripped and sold in order to make sure the club could continue. Joining Ferdinand at the exit door was Jonathan Woodgate, who moved to Newcastle, while record signing Robbie Fowler went to Manchester City.

Other stalwarts of the side that had been so thrilling to watch over the past few seasons exited, too; Lee Bowyer was offloaded to West Ham, Olivier Dacourt to Roma and Robbie Keane sent to Tottenham. It would prove to be the beginning of the end for Leeds as a top-flight force.

Elsewhere Liverpool gambled on World Cup performances translating to the Premier League, snapping up Senegalese duo El Hadji Diouf and Salif Diao for a combined £14m, while newly-promoted Manchester City, not content with just Fowler, spent a huge £13m on Nicolas Anelka from Paris Saint-Germain as they sought to gain a foothold in the top division. Newcastle also made a significant purchase, spending £11m on the highly-regarded Portuguese winger Hugo Viana.

Joining City from the division below were West Bromwich Albion…

Source link : https://www.footballcritic.com/season-reviews/when-van-nistelrooys-goals-got-united-their-title-back-the-premier-league-in-2002-03/56

Author : [email protected] (Martin Macdonald)

Publish date : 2024-07-28 10:00:00

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