Review: Ivan, Gabriel Heinze

蓝羽

<font size="2"><strong>"I know that I've given everything in every game I've played." <br/>Gabriel Heinze <br/></strong>Chants of ‘Argentina’ haven't been as forthcoming this season with Gabriel Heinze in and out of the side as a result of injury and the form of Patrice Evra. Yet when it has really mattered, during the business end of the season, the 29-year-old has been worth his weight in gold. <br/>Benched for the beginning of the season as a result of muscle-wastage after injury, Heinze made his first start in a 1-1 draw against Reading at the Madejski Stadium in September. After such a prolonged absence he found it hard finding his form and eight days later he was sidelined again, this time for three weeks with a hamstring injury sustained at Newcastle. <br/>With Evra playing well in his absence Heinze’s starts were limited to cameo roles in the cup competitions as the first half of the season developed, but man-of-the-match performances against both Benfica and Copenhagen in the Champions League group stages saw him display all the ruthlessness, running and determination that have made him such a vital team member since his arrival. <br/>He continued his improving form during the busy Christmas period and against City at home, <br/>in which United ran out 3-1 winners, it was Heinze that robbed Richard Dunne to cross for Louis Saha to score the decisive second. <br/>Again he was forced to take a back seat in January as Evra was almost ever-present, but returned to the side against Watford in a comfortable 4-0 win. He played twice in February, scoring a long-range strike against Reading in an enthralling FA Cup replay at Reading’s Madejski Stadium before he came into his own in March. <br/>Another man-of-the-match showing in the slender FA Cup win against Boro pre-empted a longer run in the side and Heinze’s stock also rose when he deputised in the centre of defence in the absence of Ferdinand and Vidic. Featuring alongside Wes Brown he played like a colossus against Sheffield United – keeping a clean sheet against an adventurous Blades attack. <br/>“I know that I’ve given everything I possibly can in every game I’ve played,” he said. And you can’t ask for more than that… <br/><br/>Magic Moment <br/>United 2 Sheffield Utd 0 <br/>17 April 2007, Old Trafford <br/><br/>He was lucky to escape with his late challenge on Luton Shelton in the area, but that last-ditch tackle proved indicative of his commitment. In a season dogged by injury and the excellent form of others, here he was a steady influence on an occasionally rocky night to blunt the Blades. </font><br/>