Jose Mourinho's Manchester United secured a vital 2-1 win against Liverpool this afternoon to put a serious strangle-hold on second-place.
Although second-place will only be a small virtue perhaps for landing there means finishing about Jurgen Klopp's side, one player particularly demonstrated his determination to ensure United's post-Ferguson 'blip' is soon overcome.
When he made his move to Manchester United in the summer of 2011, Ashley Young joined a side that had achieved perhaps more than any United team under Ferguson to date.
With the same core of players, United had reached three Champions League finals (winning one) in a four-year period that had also brought them three Premier League titles. Although Cristiano Ronaldo had departed two summers earlier, United looked safe and sound going forward.
Little did he know at the time, things were about to get decidedly worse; if not as shocking as certain analysts would have you believe.
Although he would be part of Ferguson's last title-winning team in 2012/13, Young, like those still remaining at United from those Ferguson days, has had to suffer the ignominy of the club's expected drop off in everything from standards of performance, to expectations.
Yet, akin to other Ferguson old boys David De Gea and Antonio Valencia, Young has managed to consistently improve, irrespective of the circumstances. Furthermore, he has continued to adapt all the while.
However surprised he may have been by Ferguson's departure in 2013, Young can hardly have foreseen the events that would lead him to be Manchester United's regular left-back five years on.
Theoretically competing with the man United made the most expensive teenage signing (2014) in Luke Shaw, Young has transformed from a pacy winger with a lethal delivery, to an utterly reliable full-back still in possession of that lethal whip.
Up against one of the Premier League's most fearsome attacking trios in Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah today, Young looked completely at home where so many have floundered.
Ashley Young magnificent #MUNLIV few have played Salah better. Not really a question of whether he’s in Southgate’s #eng squad on Thursday now but does he start at World Cup? Most in-form left-back & can easily play wing-back system Southgate wants to use in Russia.
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) March 10, 2018
United are the only top six side Mohamed Salah has failed to score against, which is testament to Ashley Young's brilliance today. Vindicated his selection amid the Luke Shaw clamour. #mufc
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) March 10, 2018
Also shoutout Ashley Young, England call up as main LB at this rate
— Reev (@TheReevHD) March 10, 2018
Ashley Young is so good in big games.
— Jon (@jonbir90) March 10, 2018
A player who took some time for United fans to warm to, his development mirrors that of Valencia in many regards.
Two players that had demonstrated their ability as wingers with struggling Premier League sides, at 32-years-old, both men have offered United a stability that has so often been found lacking.
For Young, it was Louis van Gaal who realistically offered the idea that he could make the move back down the wing.
With his often preferred back-five formation, Young made the move steadily to wing-back first. That he is now an outright full-back offers some glimpse of his determination to extract the most that he can from his stint at Manchester United.
This is what in essence has transformed the manner United fans regard Young.
He just so desperately wants to play for Manchester United. Although he is hardly a long-term solution to the extensive problems United's defence is prone to demonstrating at times, his links to an earlier time at United are crucial.
When playing against Tottenham Hotspur in the first of their two Premier League ties this season, a chippy Dele Alli had a word with Young. Quick as you like, Young reminded the young England midfielder that he can talk "when he has won the Prem."
At a time when United can occasionally look listless and lacking in identity, Young is a link to a happier time. Although looking backward is no solution at all, between his work rate, determination to succeed, and even the arrogance to believe that he should be starting in a position for Manchester United that he has so rarely played in, Young is everything United should be looking to going forward.
