MANCHESTER,
England — After enduring years of industrial decline, the people of
this northern city are not new to building, or to rebuilding, and they
have experienced things far worse than the loss of a few more soccer
matches than usual.
Still, the 26 trophy-filled years overseen by the former Manchester United
manager Alex Ferguson raised expectations in the red half of this city.
Their memory also soured the mood of the 72,000 fans who braved another
murky Manchester night this week to watch United fight to correct the
course of one of its worst seasons in decades.
The occasion was a league match against Cardiff City, currently in last place in its first season in the 20-team Premier League,
England’s top division. It was a game United, at its best, would have
expected to win handily. But United’s best has been fleeting this
season, and though the Red Devils won, 2-0, the display was only
occasionally graced by the team’s old flair. In the context of the
club’s horrendous season, however, the victory might have come just in
time.
