Sorry about the length of this post, lmao.
Once I started I just couldn't stop ...
Be patient though - I hope you enjoy it ...
Good practise for my English exam too so sorry for using you all for this
Let's talk about pressure. I'm sure the players feel it this year. But for me Fergie
has the worst pressure of all. I say thank God we have him in charge because
he can take the weight of this burden no problem - I hope !!
The hand of history has again been placed on his shoulders and I don't think he is
entirely comfortable with it as the clubs date with destiny begins to loom large on
the horizon.
Moscow, May 21st, 2008.
Forty years on from United's first European Cup triumph.
Also …
50 years since Matt Busby's brilliant young team was wiped out on a snow
covered airfield in Munich.
I'm a huge believer in this current squad. I think they can go on to become the
GREATEST EVER United team !!
Ferguson's new, exciting team, driven on by the peerless talent of Cristiano
Ronaldo, may yet earn favourable comparisons with those Busby Babes, whose
lives were cut short in the disaster on February 6, 1958.
BUT UNITED MUST WIN IN THE RUSSIAN CAPITAL IN 4 MONTHS TIME !!!
Fergie and United have been down this road before but always the fairytale
ending has been reserved for someone else. Some one steals their thunder -
someone ruins the party.
Eleven years ago United “Were destined†to win in Munich - how could they fail - it
was written in the fairytale books. But defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the semi
finals enabled the Germans to collect - and United to reflect. I was only 13 years
back then and this broke my heart because I am a great believer in destiny.
The ‘perfect tribute' of winning in Munich never happened !!
Six years ago Fergie was ‘destined' to take United to Glasgow for the ‘dream' final
against Real Madrid at Hampden……
Then win the European Cup right on the doorstep of his - and Sir Matt's - Govan
roots.
Bayern Leverkusen ruined that one knocking United out in the Semi Finals
AGAIN !!!
Now we have the 50th anniversary of Munich where United lost 8 of it's ‘babes‘.
Surely it is destiny for United to bring the European Cup home - how can they fail
it's another fairytale !
But the fear of failure is upon them now !!
This anniversary had to come around eventually…..
Time stops for no man.
I was thinking about this maybe 3 or 4 years ago when I was still home in
Romania. Oh yes we must be Champions of Europe - it's written in the stars etc
etc. This could be another really high point for United !!
But now I'm very nervous.
But having said this I also believe we have the right players to honour those
killed by winning the European Cup. They have the ammunition for it. Munich
could be an incentive for this - but it could also be the biggest handicap too !!
However…
This team are not afraid of challenges. They can play without nerve, and there
are too many of them who play without nerve for us to fail miserably. We have a
marvellous chance - purely based on the temperament of these guys and nothing
else.
Old Trafford is getting ready for an emotional week of tributes to those killed on
the way home from a European Cup tie against Red Star Belgrade 50 years ago
on Wednesday.
For those with a connection and love with United, the anniversary is a stark
reminder of the team that the club lost, but also of the genesis of the mystique
that continues to surround United across the globe.
Munich made United the best supported club in the world. As they are now, with
people from every corner of the globe choosing to follow them - look at our
members here - how many nations ?
But the multinational world of the Premier League has left United with a squad of
players far removed from the collection of local boys that formed the bedrock of
Busby's team and Ferguson admits that the club has done everything to educate
this team about United's tragic history.
Since Fergie arrives in 1986 he has put United back to the summit of English
football and once again placed them on course to dominate Europe. Another
European Cup will see him surpass Sir Matt in one respect, but no matter what
Fergie does, or wins, he will never compare to the man that built United. Some
may say I am mad saying this - but it's how I feel.
Sir Matt crawled off his death bed to go and meet the players who survived, after
3 months in hospital - where he was given the final rights 3 times ffs. He should
have been dead. He had to go and meet these guys having dragged them into
Europe to compete with the best. He was told ‘No' by the FA. He was called mad
for having such plans but still he went ahead with it. But what could he say to
these guys who survived - he felt responsible no doubt. Being their manager, he
was a father to them, so you can imagine if he chose to retire at that time,
nobody would have complained.
Nobody could have said anything, because to go through that and lose half your
team is a hell of a thing to happen to anyone. But he had the will to carry on and
rebuild the club, which is where the romance still is. I wish I had just 10% of his
heart, will and determination.
From the air crash to winning the European Cup in 1968 was an incredible feat.
The feat was not just to win a European Cup, but it was how they won it with all
the young players they had. I think that is romance……
Now “Team Ronaldo†have a massive burden on their shoulders.
But as I said before - for me this is the best ever United team - many disagree as
they showed in the poll we held. But I still stand by what I said. How Fergie had
the vision and energy to carry on and assemble this bunch is a miracle but he did
it.
They are as good as, if not better than EVERY team in Europe as I speak. They
can beat anyone on their day. But after the 2 big failures I mentioned earlier
they say it's third time lucky. These guys MUST step up to the mark. The time for
talking and bullshit must end now.
Can they win every league and cup game from now until the end of the season ?
Damn right they can !!
It starts today with Spurs.
Another treble is required - nothing else will do.
Not for me, or you, or Fergie or any of the players but for Sir Matt !!!
This is what I call romance so let's do it !!!
