MANCHESTER // For once, there was no remarkable comeback from Manchester United, no dramatic triumph secured at the last and no addition to the list of improbable United victories. Come the final whistle, Sir Alex Ferguson was glowering, not dancing.
A routine victory, professionally achieved, mattered little. United's season ended in anti-climax, determined 200 miles south at Stamford Bridge. Long before the final whistle, the goading Stoke fans were celebrating John Terry and chorusing "You're not champions any more". Slightly premature then, it is factual now. United's three-year reign is over. Most cuttingly, there was a chant of "There's only one Malcolm Glazer."
The protests against the American's ownership were intensified, the green-and-gold scarves displayed in vocal opposition at the final whistle after the release of smoke bombs outside the club shop and stink bombs by the directors' entrance before the game. For United supporters, off-field events have left a foul smell.
The glint of a trophy could camouflage the dissatisfaction about the debts caused by the profiteers from Florida. Second place cannot. In 12 months, United have banked a vast sum from the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo, declined to invest some of it in Carlos Tevez and failed in their objective to secure the historic fourth title. As the fans recognise, they are not unrelated. In that context, finishing a point behind the eventual winners ranks as an achievement. "I think we can be proud," said Ferguson. "We've challenged very strongly for a fourth title in a row. I think it was always going to be a hard ask to expect Wigan to get something [against Chelsea] and when they went down to 10 men, all our hopes evaporated."
United nevertheless did their part. They were comfortably good enough to see off Stoke. Before the breakthrough was made, Dimitar Berbatov had spurned a hat-trick of opportunities, clipping the cross bar with one header. His latest display of profligacy did not cost United. This was one win accomplished, too, without a goal from Wayne Rooney.
The opener was a mess from a Stoke perspective. Following Giggs's corner, the ball ricocheted around the penalty area via Nemanja Vidic's head, Andy Wilkinson's right foot and Dean Whitehead's back before falling for Darren Fletcher to finish. Then Berbatov held off Wilkinson's challenge before squaring the ball for Giggs to slide his shot under Asmir Begovic.
A third came via a United alumnus. Rooney's cross was sliced into his own net by Danny Higginbotham, whose career began at Old Trafford. Finally, Ji-sung Park headed in another Giggs corner, though the Korean was only involved after Rooney departed.
"He aggravated his groin again," said Ferguson. "I don't think it's serious. I think he'll be OK for England."
For Rooney, it was a day of double disappointment. Didier Drogba's hat-trick deprived him of the Golden Boot. Chelsea's form denied United a more prestigious title. "We know how hard it is to win it, we've won the last three," Ferguson said. "I congratulate Carlo [Ancelotti] because it is a wonderful achievement."
sports@thenational.ae
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Abramovich London
A Kensington Palace Gardens house with 15 bedrooms is valued at more than £150 million.
A three-storey penthouse at Chelsea Waterfront bought for £22 million.
Steel company Evraz drops more than 10 per cent in trading after UK officials said it was potentially supplying the Russian military.
Sale of Chelsea Football Club is now impossible.
Guns N’ Roses’s last gig before Abu Dhabi was in Hong Kong on November 21. We were there – and here’s what they played, and in what order. You were warned.
- It’s So Easy
- Mr Brownstone
- Chinese Democracy
- Welcome to the Jungle
- Double Talkin’ Jive
- Better
- Estranged
- Live and Let Die (Wings cover)
- Slither (Velvet Revolver cover)
- Rocket Queen
- You Could Be Mine
- Shadow of Your Love
- Attitude (Misfits cover)
- Civil War
- Coma
- Love Theme from The Godfather (movie cover)
- Sweet Child O’ Mine
- Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb cover)
- Wish You Were Here (instrumental Pink Floyd cover)
- November Rain
- Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden cover)
- Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan cover)
- Nightrain
Encore:
- Patience
- Don’t Cry
- The Seeker (The Who cover)
- Paradise City
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
THREE
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The biog
Name: Capt Shadia Khasif
Position: Head of the Criminal Registration Department at Hatta police
Family: Five sons and three daughters
The first female investigator in Hatta.
Role Model: Father
She believes that there is a solution to every problem
