A damaging 0-0 draw was on the cards as the Everton players - in particular centre-back Phil Jagielka and former Reds goalkeeper Tim Howard - continually thwarted Chicharito, Wayne Rooney and company. But the United manager always felt the victory would come as his side chased it all the way in the club's hallmark manner.
"I could feel the goal coming," Sir Alex told MUTV. "We had the momentum and the crowd was up. When the crowd gets going, it sucks the ball in.
"Today's game was tricky. Everton are very resilient and some of their defending was fantastic today. Their goalkeeper and two centre-backs were absolutely brilliant. We had shots blocked near the line, some misses and the goalkeeper made two or three great saves.
"Our decision making wasn’t up to scratch in the first half, when we had some great openings, and we could have had the game finished by half-time. But in the time-honoured fashion of Manchester United, we don’t do that. We wait to the very end. It keeps everyone hanging and on the edge of their seat, but we get there.
"You say to yourself, ‘It’s going to be another late one here.’ You can just smell the history of the club and so it was to be.
"The important thing is we never gave up. We took gambles, we took risks. We put Wayne Rooney in the middle of the pitch, we brought Ryan Giggs on, Michael Owen on. Jonny Evans has not had many games, neither has Fabio, but they both saw it through and showed great resilience and determination to get through it.
"It was a fantastic performance by the lads in the way they kept going against a good Everton team. I think we can be very pleased today. We’ve got the result we want."
Not for the first time this season, Sir Alex paid tribute to the attitude and ability of Chicharito, United's match winner - and the talent of the man who created his goal, Antonio Valencia.
"Chicharito has done better than everyone expected in his first year because we thought he would just get used to the English game and get strengthened up," said Sir Alex. "But he’s passed all those tests. He’s first in at nine o’clock in the morning and he’s the last one to leave. He’s a truly dedicated boy.
"Valencia was fantastic again today. It's a real bonus to get a fresh player like him at this time of the season."
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| Javier Hernadez Chicharito |
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| Javier Hernandez Chicharito |
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| Javier Hernandez Chicharito |
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