Remembering Manchester United 09/010 Defence

Manchester United have experienced some of the best defenders in the EPL era with a number of these players entering the folklore of the Old Trafford faithful. One of the squad that many will not forget in a while is the last Champions League squad built by Sir Alex Ferguson.

The defence was built on world-class players that understood their roles and were at the top of their games. In goal was Edwin Van Der Saar one of the best stoppers in the past decade for the club. Van Der Saar was the person that brought stability to the club by his authority and safe hands at the back.

He made several crucial saves during his time at the club and was in a personal duel with PetrCech for the best goalkeeper in the EPL. At left-back was the highly controversial but excellent Patrice Evra.

Signed from Monaco after they made the Champions League finals, Evra would embody the United way of arrogance and performances. It was always a wonderful sight for United fans to see the Frenchman bombing forward from the left-back position to join the attack.He contributed in large parts to the later success of the club and rose to become the club captain.

In centre defence we had the complementary duo of NemanjaVidic and Rio Ferdinand. Both players were the complete opposite which helped them. Ferdinand was the passer of the ball and clean player while Vidic was the battering ram and touch tackler.

Vidic, in particular, was well-loved by United fans for always putting his body on the line on several occasions. The duo became popular as one impregnable body of wall in front of Van der Saar.

Will United ever experience such a partnership again. It looks difficult at the moment but it is bound to happen in the coming years.