If Alex Ferguson was feeling the strain engendered by recent disappointments, he is not showing it.
Questions querying the proficiency of any side selected by the Manchester United manager do not exactly trip off the tongue of even the most transparently blunt inquisitor for despite his advancing years, this Knight of the Realm still finds utterly repellent any form of criticism, be it perceived, constructive or good-natured.
And yet, in the fading splendour of Zagreb Airport arrivals' lounge before last Wednesday's Champions League victory over Croatia's finest, Ferguson spoke openly about his team's apparent inability to rekindle their relationship with Lady Luck, the elusive harlot who had led a bunch of bug-eyed youngsters towards improbable fulfilment last season.
"It's not that we are allowing the opposition to create more chances, it's just that every chance they get they are taking," he argued with a look which suggested bemusement.
Ferguson appreciates better than most that nothing lasts forever in football, and on Saturday he would probably have found it difficult to conceal a rueful smile as Aston Villa missed enough chances to have wrapped up an engaging game long before United negotiated safe passage following the debilitating lethargy which seems to afflict all English teams after an appearance in Europe.
Villa were almost queuing up to audition for the role of villain: Dion Dublin, George Boateng, Alan Thompson, Benito Carbone. Beforehand Villa's manager John Gregory had said he believed his side could not only win here, but could go on to launch a realistic challenge. Well, he will need two new fullbacks if his second statement is to be more meaningful than his first, for Gareth Barry and Mark Delaney never once threatened to subdue David Beckham and Ryan Giggs respectively.
Beckham was again masterful, delivering two intelligent and unerringly accurate trademark crosses to set up fine first-half goals for Paul Scholes and Andy Cole. Roy Keane added a spectacular third. "In terms of passing, Beckham is as good as anyone in the world; he can put it in a bucket from anywhere on the pitch," said Gregory.
Ferguson confirmed that corrective surgery on Scholes' hernia will be delayed, so freeing him for the England-Scotland Euro 2000 play-off games. "He is the best midfield player England have got as he can both create and he can score," said Ferguson. "His passing and his range of vision is quite exceptional."
MANCHESTER UTD: Bosnich, Irwin, Stam, Silvestre, Neville, Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs (Cruyff 79), Cole (Wilson 79), Yorke (Solskjaer 66). Subs Not Used: Van Der Gouw, Berg. Goals: Scholes 30, Cole 45, Keane 65.
ASTON VILLA: James, Delaney, Calderwood, Southgate, Barry, Boateng (Stone 55), Hendrie, Taylor, Thompson (Wright 72), Dublin, Carbone (Merson 76). Subs Not Used: Watson, Enckelman. Booked: Barry.
Referee: A Wilkie (Chester Le Street).
