I let the celebrations continue for a few more minutes, then I clapped my hands for silence. The music was cut, and all eyes turned to me. I wasn't going to give a long speech. The time for words was over. The time for feeling was now.
"I have nothing to say," I began, my voice thick with emotion, "except this. I have never, ever been prouder of a group of players in my entire life. You went out there today, and you fought. You suffered. You bled. You played with courage and a discipline that was awe-inspiring. You did it for yourselves, you did it for each other, and you did it for those three thousand magnificent fans who never stopped singing for you. You are not just a team. You are a family. And you are Premier League. Now, let's go home."
The roar that greeted my words was even louder than the one for Wayne's award. The party continued all the way to the team bus, a joyous, chaotic procession of red and blue.
