Match of the Day Pundit Lauds United’s ‘Mountain of a Man’

Liverpool legend Alan Hansen believes Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic was extremely unlucky not to be named the Footballer of the Year given his instrumental role in the Red Devils' 19<sup>th title win last season.

The towering Old Trafford stalwart was recently ruled out for the remainder of the season with a serious knee injury, but Hansen largely credits Manchester United's Premier League win last season down to a defender he describes as "a mountain of a man".

Hansen believes Vidic bailed Manchester United out of trouble on numerous occasions during the title run-in in the latter stages of last season and such was his form, the Serbian was perhaps unlucky to have been overlooked in the individual honours, which were eventually won by Gareth Bale and Scott Parker.

"The Manchester United captain was just sensational in the closing weeks of last season, when he played such a big part in his team winning the title." Hansen told the Daily Telegraph.

"Whenever Manchester United were under pressure, Vidic would be there, kicking, heading and blocking everything that came near him.

"He is a mountain of a man and United will miss him so much until he returns from a cruciate ligament injury next season.

"How he was not voted as Footballer of the Year is beyond belief." Hansen concluded.

The aforementioned Manchester United captain ruptured his cruciate knee ligament during the Red Devils' defeat to FC Basel. Manchester United's Champions League elimination was exasperated by their news their talismanic centre-half would be out for the duration of their title defence.

Such was the severity of the injury, he ruptured three ligaments in his right knee, various reports have raised doubts over Vidic's footballing career, yet the Manchester United star's agent has rubbished those claims.

The first forecasts say it can last for a year, but it is meaningless to talk about the end of his career," Silvana Martina told the Daily Mail after being pressed on claims regarding the Manchester United captain's long term prospects.

"It's a serious injury but club doctors assure us that the recovery will run smoothly and he will be back on the field."

Nemanja is feeling good. He will be back next year stronger and better."