Whatever happens on Sunday, Manchester United have had one hell of a season. Sir Alex Ferguson will not see it like that, of course, and neither will the fans. Old Trafford does not view coming second to Chelsea and being removed from the Champions League in the quarter-finals by Bayern Munich as a cause for celebration. It is this relentless desire that keeps the club successful.
Yet, relatively, United have done well. This is their crack at an unprecedented fourth straight title in English football. Only four other teams have been in this position and none have come as close as United this year. The fact there is an outside chance that they could still do it is remarkable. No previous challenge has lasted until the final day of the season. Even were Chelsea to defeat Wigan and United lost at home to Stoke City, the margin between them would still only be four points, equivalent to a win and a draw. Whatever unfolds, this is the best defence of a third straight title in the history of the English game.
The four clubs previously in this position were Huddersfield Town (1926-27), Arsenal (1935-36), Liverpool (1984-85) and Manchester United (2001-02). Huddersfield fared best, but were still inferior to United this season. In search of a fourth straight title Huddersfield finished in second place, five points behind Newcastle, equivalent to two wins and a draw. The same margin separated second and seventh in Division One that year.
Then came Arsenal, a woeful effort. They ended up sixth, 11 points off league winners Sunderland, a huge margin in the days of two points for a win, equating to 16 points now. That season only 23 points separated top from bottom – the league was more competitive, the same relative gap now divides first place and 11th – and Arsenal's points total was nearer the relegated clubs than the champions.
After that, a long wait until Liverpool, who reached the European Cup final in 1985 but were 13 points short of Everton in the league, despite coming second.
Manchester United were only marginally better in 2002, in third place, 10 points behind champions Arsenal, with Liverpool the runners-up.
So while some may see this season as a failure for Manchester United, even if Chelsea win on Sunday, they will have come closer to making history than any team before – and without Cristiano Ronaldo, the player who quite clearly has made the difference over the last three seasons.
It is very hard to dominate English football for long. Real Madrid have won five straight titles on two occasions in Spain, and Barcelona were at one time champions four years on the trot. Juventus and Torino have both won five in succession in Italy, and Inter Milan are likely to equal that record this season.
The Bundesliga has only been in existence since 1964 and already Bayern Munich have won three consecutive titles on three occasions; Borussia Moenchengladbach did it once.
So let's face it. For Manchester United to be in this position twice in a decade is absolutely magnificent; and to be so close again shows the exceptional mettle of this team. Just don't expect Ferguson to be smiling if he falls short. Pluckiest loser has never been a prize worth a damn at Old Trafford.