Owen Hargreaves: Playing through the Pain

Tom Oldfield

When Manchester United fell short in the Champions League semi-final last season against eventual winners AC Milan, it was easy to spot the key component missing from Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad. Brazilian star Kaka dominated both legs of the tie for the Italians, finding oceans of space between United’s midfield and back four.  Sir Alex desperately needed a quality holding midfielder. Enter Owen Hargreaves.

Hargreaves, born in Calgary, Canada, completed his move to United during the summer for around £17 million, after lengthy negotiations. Sir Alex had chased him without success during the January 2007 transfer window but Bayern Munich eventually caved in during the close season.

The 27-year-old enjoyed a fruitful spell in Germany. Snapped up by Bayern as a teenager,  Hargreaves made his Bundesliga debut in 2000 and in no time was lifting the Champions League as the German side triumphed over Valencia in a penalty shootout. The midfielder’s displays in the semi-final against Real Madrid were crucial in helping Bayern reach the final.

Hargreaves added four German titles and an Intercontinental Cup and forced his way into the England squad, where his inclusion was never popular with supporters who rarely saw him play at club level.

All this changed with his brilliant performance against Portugal in the 2006 World Cup quarter-final. His tireless running and never-say-die attitude won over even the harshest critics as he carried ten-man England forward. Hargreaves was the only Englishman to score in the penalty shootout as he and his team-mates crashed out. He was rewarded for his excellent form at the tournament by being named England’s Player of the World Cup and Player of the Year for 2006.

Hargreaves’ move to United was expected to be the start of big things but it has not been plain-sailing for the midfielder. Frustrating injury problems have held him back and he has played fewer minutes than he had hoped, leading a minority of United fans to voice their frustrations. Having been bought to fill the anchorman role, supporters must wait until next season to see Hargreaves at his destructive best in that position.

With the assured efforts of Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick and young Brazilian Anderson, Sir Alex has been able to allow Hargreaves to recover slowly from his various injury set-backs without seeing the team’s form suffer.  The England international is currently back in action but he is having to grit his teeth and is bravely playing on through the pain for the sake of United’s Double bid.

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He is expected to undergo an operation in the summer to sort out his on-going tendonitis problems but for the time being he is focused solely on silverware and doing whatever it takes to help United win games. Such is his versatility and all-round skills that Sir Alex did not hesitate to throw him in at right back when forced to reshuffle the defence in the absence of the ill and injured Nemanja Vidic.

Hargreaves, wearing the number 4 shirt for the Reds, has twice found the net this season – both from free-kicks. The first, against Fulham, helped United towards an easy win. The second, though, was much more important as it proved to be the winner in a critical title showdown with Arsenal. The precision of his shot left Jens Lehmann a mere spectator – something the controversial German has been all too used to during this campaign.

We are now at the business end of the season and United are two games from glory, or two games from despair. Chelsea could wreck all the hard work that has taken place at Old Trafford. They are the opponents for Hargreaves and company in the Champions League final in Moscow on May 21 and are in position to pip the Reds to the Premiership title if United falter at the JJB Stadium against Wigan this weekend.

But in Hargreaves, United have a man who was made for the biggest stage. In key games this season the midfield terrier has dominated proceedings. At the Emirates, he flustered Cesc Fabregas into an error-ridden first half display while at Anfield he nullified the threat of Steven Gerrard. When he is on-song, he is everywhere, stopping opponents from threatening the United goal.

His best performance thus far was probably at Old Trafford in the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Roma – a night on which he seemed to cover every blade of grass. It is just a shame that, approaching 50 caps for England, Hargreaves will not feature at Euro 2008 this summer. Many believe his injury woes played a part in the English national side failing to qualify for the tournament. Without a doubt, he is just as important at international level as he is for United.

With two colossal contests ahead, Hargreaves will once again pick up his aching body and throw himself into the middle of the battle.  His work-rate will be vital in the Champions League final – a competition in which he has many great memories – and he will surely be called upon at the weekend too. In two weeks’ time, Hargreaves could be reflecting on United’s Double success. Nobody will try harder to make it a reality.