It's not easy supporting United

You didn’t really expect United to win the title the easy way, did you?

What's more, your nerves are bound to take a real battering over the next week. After all, that’s the United way.

But let’s not forget what a great position the Reds are in. When United took to the field in Toronto on 16 July last year for the opening pre-season game, nobody expected that squad to challenge for honours. In fact, if someone had told you that, come May, the Reds would be three points clear in the Premier League with three games to go and on the brink of a place in the Champions League final, you'd have thought them mad. Sir Alex has worked his magic once again on a team everybody seemed determined to write off.

Now, back to matters at hand. It seems there's already a lot of people talking about Chelsea taking over top spot this Sunday at Old Trafford. But you also have to remember a United win would essentially wrap up the title with two games to spare. And Old Trafford has been a real fortress this season: 49 points from a possible 51 tells its own story.

It wasn’t vintage United at the Emirates on Sunday and Arsenal were value for their win. But it must feel like a very hollow victory for everyone connected with the Gunners. It’s a case of "here's what you could have won", to paraphrase Bullseye’s Jim Bowen.

I’m not sure Arsenal will get a better chance to win the title than they've had this year. City, Chelsea, Liverpool and United will probably all be better teams next season and the competition will be even more
fierce. However, there’s no doubt the food in the press room at the Emirates is title-winning: anywhere that gives journalists individual pots of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is okay by me!

Of course, before Sunday’s title showdown there’s the small matter of the Champions League semi-final second leg. I don't want to tempt fate, but I just can’t see any way back for Schalke. I couldn’t believe how poor they were in the first leg last week. But we must remember they scored five at the San Siro in the last round, so let’s keep a lid on any complacency.

The last time we saw a semi-final second leg at OT was back in 2008 against Barcelona. Has the last 15 minutes of a football match tested your nerves more than that one did? It was agony. The clock seemed to stop. But what celebrations afterwards. We can only hope for similar scenes at the final whistle on Wednesday!