'Not in a dozen years have Sir Alex Ferguson’s followers had more reason to feel sorry for themselves and those who trooped past the press box on their sombre trudge out of the Millennium Stadium were loudly cursing their misfortune. The black shirts turned out not to be in protest at Glazer but a reflection of their mood after the first FA Cup Final to be decided by a penalty shoot-out.
Even winning the toss for the choice of ends conspired against them. All it meant was that they had an even closer view of Jens Lehmann’s save from Paul Scholes and the Arsenal celebrations after Patrick Vieira had completed his team’s impeccable quintet of spot-kicks. On top of a detested new owner and raised ticket prices, they had to endure the sight of Arsenal players prancing about under their noses.
The majority of United supporters had left the stadium well before the presentation of the trophy, although the long drive home only gave them several hours to reflect that defeat had left them without a trophy this season. The past four years have produced only one championship and one FA Cup, which, in the context of the previous decade and the rise of Chelsea, will fuel the theory of United as a fading force.
After their years of tyranny, the manager, players and supporters will be acutely aware that no one will be weeping for them, but there was sanctuary to be found on Saturday. As well as the trickery of Cristiano Ronaldo and the awesome attacking power of Wayne Rooney, there was refuge on the moral high ground. After all the talk that United would have to resort to thuggery, it was Arsenal who surrendered their principles and not just when José Antonio Reyes was sent off for a second booking near the end of extra time.'