Opposition teams used to fear visiting Old Trafford. It was a Theatre of Nightmares for away managers who would go there and just park the bus in front of their goalposts. But this season something has changed. For some reason teams are no longer scared to take on Sir Alex Ferguson’s boys in front of their fans.
Some years ago Roy Keane complained about the atmosphere, or lack of it, created by the home fans with his infamous “prawn sandwiches” outburst. Maybe the United fans are too comfortable, or even too quiet, but certainly the atmosphere is no longer intimidating enough for away players.
This season Manchester United have lost only two league matches at home. Bottom of the table Blackburn Rovers won 3-2 and Manchester City thrashed them 6-1. In the Champions League, of their three home games United won only one – with a 2-2 draw against Benfica and a 3-3 tie with Basel, ultimately leading to them getting knocked out. In the Europa League, Ajax Amsterdam won 2-1 and last week Spain’s Athletic Bilbao outplayed United and came away 3-2 winners.
Despite this, United have shown that on their day they can still hurt teams big time at Old Trafford. This is clear in the 8-2 annihilation of Arsenal, while Wigan succumbed to a 5-0 defeat, Bolton and Tottenham lost 3-0, while Chelsea were disposed of with a 3-1 victory.
Looking at that home record, it doesn’t appear too bad. The thing is, teams now think they have a chance when they go to Old Trafford – especially, it seems, European teams. Now that is a worry for United’s future UEFA Champions League aspirations.
The History
When I look at the past 20 years I can recall only a few famous results by teams at Old Trafford.
In 1997, a young AS Monaco side led by Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet got the 1-1 draw they needed at Old Trafford to qualify on away goals after the first leg in France had ended 0-0.
Four years later, a goal from Paulo Di Canio was enough to send West Ham through to the fifth round of the FA Cup. The Italian rounded Fabien Barthez after latching on to Frederic Kanoute’s through ball for a famous win, with the Frenchman’s attempts to psyche him out of shooting coming in vain.
The next season, 2002′s double-winning Arsenal clinched the league at Old Trafford with a 1-0 victory, thanks to a strike from Sylvain Wiltord. The Gunners celebrated winning the Premier League at the home of their bitter rivals.
The Future
Manchester United need to remind teams just how unstoppable they can be in front of their home fans. They need to instil a sense of fear back into the Old Trafford atmosphere so that visiting European teams go there trembling in their boots. In next season’s Champions League United must be more convincing if they are to have any hopes of success.
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