Euro glory to mark Munich

Stuart Brennan

July 30, 2007

Ryan Giggs

UNITED'S players want to win the European Champions League next season as the ultimate tribute to those who died at Munich.

February will mark the 50th anniversary of the crash which claimed the lives of 23 people, including eight United players, and Ryan Giggs says he and his teammates are aiming to mark it in the best possible way.

"I think the players want to do well this season because of the anniversary and the supporters will want a big trophy because of it," said Giggs.

"Every Manchester United player knows what Munich and the Busby Babes meant to the history of our club. Everything special about United stems back to that time. It's why we have so many fans around the world.

"To win the European Cup again this season to mark 50 years after Munich would be the most unbelievable tribute."

United have announced no plans for marking the anniversary, but Giggs says that the poignancy of this season is already being felt by the players. He said: "You are beginning to see a lot of video footage and read a lot about that team, and it has brought it home to me how important they were."

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Steve, Glossop (30/07/2007 at 09:30)

It simply has to be won again. Alex has admitted he became obsessed with doing so just a pity he made so many cock ups in selections & tactics. Now with OH we have more steel & much less chance of seeing the likes of Real & AC cutting through like butter. I'm very confident for it this year.

pete (30/07/2007 at 09:41)

What about a friendly game in February against Red Star Belgrade? This, of course was the game played prior to the air crash. There were friendships made after the game between the players. In fact the Red Star web page has a large section commemorating the game and the death of the players.Rajko Mitic the Red Star captain refered to the team as 'possibly the best in the world at the time.'
I think such a game would be a fitting tribute to both teams.

george (30/07/2007 at 09:42)

Wow ee Steve; I wish I was that confident.We should have a good chance tho because we've signed quality players in the summer.
I don't like the plan being aired before take-off.I wish we would just win it and then say,that's what we planned to do.
"Seagulls follow the trawler." Why throw fish into the sea?

Gerry, Glastonbury (30/07/2007 at 10:15)

It's a truely romantic notion and it would be fantastic if it occured that way.
I think the likes of Hargreaves, Tevez, Nani & Anderson will have to be performing at a very high level to lift our squad strength to the level required to turn over teams like Barca who's squad now looks utterly frightening!
Injuries / suspensions as always will be key in the games that matter.
Having said that, this squad is potentially the best in years and that must give us a real chance - fingers crossed!

bobbydazzler (30/07/2007 at 10:37)

steve of glossop you are 100% correct saf has cocked up big style in the last 4 years both with his team selections and approach to cl. hopefully hargreaves will give us the steel we have been lacking in midfield to play a more attacking aggresive game. he has surely realised by now that the cagey approach that has been evident in recent years just doesnt suit us. ( i hope) i can then look forward with relish to travelling once more

Kevin, Tralee, Eire (30/07/2007 at 10:44)

I would pick winning the EPL over the CL every time, except this once. It would be a victory for the romantics of the game if we were to win this coming season & for the first time in 7 years we actually have a squad stong enough & capable of actually winning it. It's far too soon to be making any bold predictions about the coming season, but maybe, just maybe, it's going to be our season big style!

Steve Cummins (30/07/2007 at 11:16)

Please, please, pleasse win it United!

I'd always pick the Premiership ahead of success in Europe but we have got something to prove in the Champions League this season and to win the European Cup 50 years after the Munich disaster would be a feat befitting our wonderful club and the ultimate tribute to those who lost their lives.

What better tribute than Wayne Rooney picking up wher Duncan Edwards left off and taking us all the way.

We certainly have the team to do it. Our best European side would be a 4-2-3-1 with Van Der Sar, Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, Neville, Hargreaves, Carrick, Scholes, Nani, Ronaldo and Rooney. That should be good enough to succeed in Europe.

Wouldn't it be spooky if we played Red Star Belgrade at some point?!

Thai Curry Pie (30/07/2007 at 11:18)

Shame it won't happen. Liverpool will probably do well as usual though.

bremen red (30/07/2007 at 11:47)

I`d love us to win the CL this season, beating AC Milan 4 - 1 in the final. . . as long as we finish the EPL ahead of Pool, Chelski, Arsenal and (I have to say it or some blue bin will start celebrating) City of course!!! Forever a Devil!!!

Birdy, Ireland (30/07/2007 at 11:48)

Good suggestion Pete, that would be a fitting way to mark it

BobbyD and Steve i agree we've messed up tactically in the past few yrs. Tevez isnt in the bag yet, but if we can get him, then i dont see how SAF could possibly approach games in an overly cautious manner with the attacking talent then at his disposal. It would be embarrassing going away to someone like Benefica and getting played off the park and not having a go at them whilst having some of the best attacking players in the world itching to be let loose

Patrick McLOUGHLIN, North Carolina, USA (30/07/2007 at 11:52)

let`s not get too carried away about winning europe this season..l fully expect a great season and some silverware coming home to old trafford..but lets keep the season in perpective..yes..we have a great team (and greater) if we sign tevez..but..looking at chelsea and liverpool and arsenal all these teams too are much stronger..(arsenal yesterday looked great in beating a weakened inter milan team without many first team players on display..so lets be confident starting this season..but let us take it one game at a time..

Sterling, Salford (30/07/2007 at 13:57)

I hate to seem negative and I think we could have a good run in the Champions League this year but remember, it is a cup competition and there are a lot of great teams with great players in it. Yes our squad has improved immensely in the summer but is it miles better than any other Euro heavyweight such as Barca, Milan etc? Winning a cup competition involves an element of luck and the strongest team doesn't always win it. I'd just like to see us perform with some great attacking style, especially away from home and see how we go.

Andy P, Wythenshawe, Manchester (30/07/2007 at 14:24)

If Liverpool can reach 2 finals in 3 years, there is no reason why we cant win it! Obviously, the luck of the draw, injuries plays a part but we have one of the best sides in Europe, we have a chance.

vr (30/07/2007 at 17:33)

erm just a point lads !!! guess when us lot come down to the swamp :D !!! yep it's in February ;) we can all mourn the 50th aniversary together

ctid

boldus blue, NEWPORT SOUTH WALES (30/07/2007 at 21:20)

Not a cat in hells chance, You don't get that lucky twice.

salfordite (31/07/2007 at 10:34)

It's a cup competition. Luck will play a huge part. Let's hope our name is already on it. I always say if you want to know how good a team is look at the League after 38 games. That's the true measure.

18,5 and Counting (31/07/2007 at 10:34)

Lets ask Liverpool,Chelsea,Arsenal,Madrid,Barcelona,Milans oh no sorry we first have to ask Benfica, Celtic, Rangers, Dortmund, Porto etc not to participate in the CL league so that the mighty Manu have a chance in lifting CL cup Hehehehhehehehehehe

Mike (31/07/2007 at 11:57)

Two semi final appearances this century andy.

Yep, that really qualifies you as one of the best teams in Europe!

This charming Manc (31/07/2007 at 19:08)

Anyone can win a cup or get to a cup final, ask Porto,boro,millwall,wigan,
bayer leverkusen and liverpool. If you win a league then that shows your true class. We have the talent and class to win all four trophies and with a little slice of luck we could, fingers crossed.

bobbyc, tameside (31/07/2007 at 20:10)

Any true football fan knows that except for tragic circumstances United would have won the European Cup before 1968,but still that is as it is.Many so called big name teams have yet to win it Arsenal Chelsea,Spurs .I wont mention city as I said big name teams!

Pravda (02/08/2007 at 09:14)

Bobbyc, is that big teams like Forest though?

bobbyc, tameside (02/08/2007 at 19:01)

Nottingham is a big city ,and to be honest they had a cracking team at the time .However nowadays they will be first to admit they are not a big club ,like some teams who havent won anything since before Forests triumphs.

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