Off the Pitch 绿茵场外
Two Down, Three To Go
Manchester United took another step closer to becoming the first English team to win five trophies in one season, after beating Tottenham Hotspur in the final of the League Cup on Sunday.Both sides failed to score during the first 90 minutes and in extra time so the match was decided on a penalty shootout which Manchester won 4-1.
Manchester United’s young English goalkeeper Ben Foster was the hero, saving Tottenham’s first spot kick after taking advantage of some technological assistance.
Moments before the shootout began, Foster was shown video clips on a portable media player of Tottenham players taking penalties in previous matches.
"Just before the shootout I was looking at an iPod with goalkeeping coach Eric Steele," said Foster, "on it were images of Spurs taking penalties."
"I’d been told if O’Hara took a kick, he would probably go to my left. It was great that was exactly what happened and I managed to get a hand to it," he continued.
Manchester United have now won two out of a possible five trophies domestically and abroad, having already won the Fifa Club World Cup in December 2008.
If they can go on to win the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Champions’ League, then they will make history to become the first ever team to win the quintuple.
However, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been quick to pour cold water on the idea that the quintuple is already in the bag.
"I’m not getting carried away with it, only the media will. We will keep our feet on the ground," said Ferguson, meaning that he will not allow himself to expect success that has not happened yet.
United defender Rio Ferdinand echoed the sentiments of his boss saying, "we’ll take each game as it comes", which means they are not looking further ahead than the next game.
"We don’t get ahead of ourselves and think which silverware we are going to win next,” continued Ferdinand.
Despite their restrained words, Manchester United are in pole position to succeed in all their remaining competitions.
They are seven points ahead of Chelsea at the top of the Premier League, look likely to progress in the FA Cup and have the home advantage in their next European game against Inter Milan in a fortnight’s time.
trophies 奖杯
League Cup 英格兰联赛杯
extra time 加时赛
penalty shootout 点球大战
goalkeeper 守门员
spot kick 点球
shootout 淘汰赛
portable media player 便携式媒体播放器
Spurs 热刺队
domestically 国内的
abroad 海外
quintuple 五个（奖杯）
pour cold water 泼冷水
in the bag 已经拿到了
echoed the sentiments 表示同感
ahead of ourselves 有超越感
silverware 奖杯，银器
restrained 严谨的
pole position 领先位置
FA Cup 足总杯
home advantage 主场优势