Van der Sar: Champions League Is The Place To Be

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar believes his former club have reached football's "Holy Grail" by securing European football next season.

The Dutchman, who won the Champions League under Louis van Gaal with Ajax in 1995, was a hero in the Reds' third and most recent triumph in the competition in 2008 when he palmed away Nicolas Anelka's penalty to secure a dramatic shoot-out victory over Chelsea.

Van der Sar, who now works in a commercial role at Ajax, believes the United players will relish a chance to play in the tournament in 2015/16 after being absent from it for a year.

“The Champions League is the place to be," van der Sar told ManUtd.com. "And with all the money that goes into the competition, it's the Holy Grail.

"It wasn’t just the games I enjoyed, but also the build-up to them during the day. Then, with the floodlights on and perhaps a wet pitch, people were always up for a great game. You'd walk out and hear the roar of the fans... it's amazing to play in front of a full house, in a competition that the whole world is watching."

As for his favourite specific memories of the competition, the former goalkeeper replied: “Whenever someone mentions the Champions League, it’s hard to think of anything other than the ones I won in 1995 and 2008.

"Every United fan I meet always thanks me for the amazing night in Moscow. Saving the penalty and for two or three seconds being the hero, on your own with the other players running towards you, that memory will never leave my mind. Even talking about it now, I’m reliving the emotions of that night."

The 44-year-old has been keeping a close eye on the Reds since announcing his retirement after the club's Barclays Premier League success in 2011, and is encouraged by the developments he has witnessed during van Gaal's first season in charge.

“Of course, I've been watching very closely. Last year was strange when we finished seventh, as that’s not a position United have been familiar with over the last 20 years. But then Louis van Gaal came in, as well as some new players.

"I grew up with Louis for six years at Ajax and the Dutch national team and I think he’s a fantastic coach. He won the league at Ajax three times, and he has been with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and the national team. He’s had some difficult periods but he has belief in his philosophy.

"He has a way of communicating with players, giving them options, and also reviving them – look at Juan Mata and [Marouane] Fellaini who are now flourishing after not the best of starts at United. They’ve blossomed under him.

"Let’s hope the progress we’ve seen this year can be made again this summer with a couple of new signings, in order to challenge for the title again. I think there’s still a lot to come from the squad but you always have to look at where you can adjust or do better."

Van der Sar was speaking ahead of his return to Old Trafford for next month's Red Heart United event, in which a team of Reds legends will take on Bayern Munich All-Stars to raise money for the club's vital work in the community through the Manchester United Foundation.

"In my time at United, we went to several hospitals, local councils and schools and I remember that one morning I went to a school and was talking about breakfast and the importance of healthy food," he recalled.

"There are certain areas in Manchester that need a little bit more help [than others] to make sure that everyone has a good life, and it’s great that everyone at the Foundation can get that message across. Of course, it always helps when the players are there, and in my time at the club it was never a problem for the players to fulfill these duties."