The two defining figures of Manchester United, Sirs Matt Busby and Alex Ferguson, shared a disciplinarian streak, remarkable adaptability and a fierce fascination with continental competition.
Paddy Crerand, who won the 1968 European Cup under Busby, reflected: “He was obsessed with Europe and all the players were aware of that. We wanted to win it anyway because we wanted to be the best team, but it made it even more important to do it for Matt.”
Ferguson lifted the Champions League trophy twice but retired ruing: “We should’ve won it more.”
On this draining quest for European glory, United are doomed to fall short each time they fail to hoist the big-eared pot aloft. Some of the club’s Champions League campaigns have strayed further away from success than others, to put it mildly.
Final round: Last 16
Record: P8 W4 D1 L3
The dream ending to Ferguson’s final campaign in the Old Trafford dugout was one last European trophy to saviour. Yet, that flickering ambition was extinguished by a controversial defeat in the last 16 at home to Real Madrid.
Cristiano Ronaldo, a former United player who viewed Ferguson as a father figure, delivered the telling blow but referee Cuneyt Cakir was held to blame for many by showing Nani a soft red card.
Ferguson was so incensed that he didn’t speak to the press. Jose Mourinho, his victorious opposite number, found time to say: “The better team lost.”
Final round: Last 16
Record: P8 W3 D2 L3
United went into the final week of the first phase top of their group ahead of a trip to Turkey to face Fenerbahce, a side they had dismantled 6-2 at Old Trafford six weeks earlier.
Yet, a hat-trick from Tuncay – the second treble United had ever conceded in the competition – consigned Ferguson’s side to second place behind Lyon, teeing up a menacing last-16 draw against AC Milan. Carlo Ancelotti’s star-studded outfit would reach that year’s final and were comfortably superior over each tie, which both ended 1-0 to the Italians.
Final round: Last 16
Record: P8 W3 D3 L2
Each round of Man Utd’s 2021/22 Champions League group stage mimicked a lazy Roy of the Rovers storyline conjured by the mind of Ronaldo. The Portuguese forward scored six goals,…
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