PREMIER LEAGUE 2012-13: A NEW TITLE FOR UNITED

Another season has just finished in the English Premier League. We want here to make a summary of this exciting football year. Come with us to see the best of the 2012-2013 season.

These are the 20 teams taking part in the Premier League this season

WINNERS

Manchester United became champions as soon as 22 April 2013 after defeating Aston Villa 3-0 at Old Trafford. It is their 13th Premier League title and 20th English title overall. This has been the last season in charge for Sir Alex Ferguson, after 26 years serving the team. Among the main players we can highlight the Spanish goalkeeper De Gea, defenders Evra, Rafael or Ferdinand, midfielders Carrick or the everlasting Ryan Giggs and forwards Van Persie and Rooney.

United won their 20th league title

 

A tribute to the champions

HONOUR POSITIONS

Last champions Manchester City  qualified along with United for next Champions League. The season has been, however, disappointing for the Citizens, as expectations were really great for this year. In addition, their defeat against Wigan in the FA Cup final has added to make it a year to forget.

Manchester City couldn´t repeat their previous year´s success

Last Champions League winners Chelsea and Arsenal also qualified for the main European competition. Chelsea had quite a disappointing domestic campaign which resulted in the mid-season arrival of manager Rafa Benítez. The "Spanish Connection" between Juan Mata and Fernando Torres finally saved the season for the Blues, when they decisively helped the team to win the Europa League for the first time, defeating Benfica 2-1 in the final.

The Chelsea Spanish Connection
was essential to their European success

Arsenal added another modest season and they got their European ticket only in the last match winning 0-2 at Newcastle United. It was just a new trophyless campaign for Arsene wenger´s team.

The teams which qualified for the Europa League were Tottenham Hotspur, commanded by an outstanding Gareth Bale; Swansea City (after winning the League Cup) and Wigan Athletic (winners of the FA Cup)

Gareth Bale was the best player of the season

TOP SCORERS

Dutch forward Robin Van Persie scored 26 goals to top this list for the second year in a row, this time with Manchester United. Luis Suárez from Liverpool (23) and Gareth Bale (Tottenham-20) were placed on the other two honour positions. We must not forget the fantastic season of Spanish Swansea City forward Michu, who scored 18 goals to get the fifth position in the final chart.

Robin Van Persie was the top scorer
for the second consecutive year

BEST PLAYERS

Tottenham Hotspur´s left winger Gareth Bale has been chosen as the best player of the season for the second time. We must highlight the fact that two Spanish players, goalkeeper De Gea and miedfielder Juan Mata are in the best eleven, together with so important players like Rio Ferdinand, Bale, Van Persie or Luis Suárez.

This is the top 11 of the season

RELEGATION AND PROMOTION

Queen´s Park Rangers and Reading were both relegated some days before the final day and they would be joined by Wigan Athletic, which put an end to their eight-year stay in the Premier League.

On the other way round, Cardiff City achieved promotion to the top flight for the first time since 1960 and became the second Welsh club to play in the Premier League (after Swansea). The second automatic promotion spot was won by Hull City on the final day of the season.

Cardiff City won the Championship to become
 the second Welsh team in the Premier League

Last but not least, the third place to go up into the Premiership will be for the winners of the play-off between Watford (trained by Gianfranco Zola) and Crystal Palace. It will be played next May 27 at 3 p.m. at Wembley. Let us declare our preference for Palace, as we are fans of this South London team since our former conversation assistant Aidan Reeves "infected" us with love for them. We hope they will be a Premier League team next season.

One of the best moments in Crystal Palace history,
defeating Chelsea in the 1976 FA Cup

Crystal Palace is now a Premier League team

FA CUP

Wigan United, trained by Spanish coach Roberto Martínez, won the FA Cup for the first time in its history after defeating Manchester City 1-0. Ben Watson´s injury-time goal gave the "Latics" their first ever major trophy and a place in the group stage of the next Europa League. Wigan is the first team to win the Fa Cup and be relegated in the same season.

Ben Watson celebrates after scoring the winning goal in the Cup final

CURIOUS FACTS

-The number of matches played has been 380 and the number of goals 1.062 (2.79 per match)
-The biggest win was Chelsea 8-Aston Villa 0
-The highest scoring in a match was 10 goals ( Arsenal 7-Newcastle 3 and West Brom 5-Manchester United 5)
-The average attendance has been 35.903.
-Manchester City was the team with most clean sheets (not receiving any goals): 18
-Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson received the Manager of the Season Award for the 11th time.
-The Barclays Golden Glove Award was for Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart.

These are the two videos Aidan told us about. You´re right, Aidan. These two matches had really dramatic ends. It´s almost impossible not to love football after watching them. I had already seen the Watford-Leicester images since Watford´s goalkeeper is Almunia. Thank you very much for your contribution. It´s a real pleasure. GO... EAGLES!!!!!