Play The Game, Not The Occasion

It is a well-worn phrase and one that is drilled into players coming through the ranks at Manchester United, but the Reds simply must play the game and not the occasion at West Ham.

For all the focus on the Hammers' farewell to Upton Park, which appears to have been going on for some time, the incentive for Louis van Gaal's side is twofold. Winning will significantly raise the prospect of a top-four place, while simultaneously depriving neighbours City of Champions League football next term.

The benefits of finishing fourth are obvious and well documented. United should be competing with Europe's elite and it's an important goal to be in the competition each season. Furthermore, even discounting the fact that many fans delight in the schadenfreude of seeing rivals lose at the best of times, City's plans would be disrupted by slipping out of a competition they finally did so well in this term.

With Pep Guardiola coming in, the Blues would have been banking on Champions League football and this is United's opportunity to deal a huge, and perhaps unexpected, blow to the Etihad Stadium outfit. West Ham's supporters may be giving the ground a special send-off but the stakes are higher for van Gaal's side now the hosts' own hopes of gatecrashing the top four have been dashed.

The bubbles will be blowing and the atmosphere is certain to be even more frenzied than the recent Emirates FA Cup sixth-round replay, when every decision was contested with partisan fervour. Yet United came through that test when few expected progression to the semi-finals, showing a resolve and spirit in a tense finale that must be evident again tonight.

Irons fans will be hoping favourite son Mark Noble emulates Matt Le Tissier's feat for Southampton at The Dell by cracking in the final goal at the venue, or that there is another romantic footnote to their soon-to-be former home. The East Londoners have always enjoyed stopping the Reds in their tracks in the past as well, and memories of 1992 and 1995 are still painful to say the least.

The West Ham supporters chanted Ludek Miklosko's name in the three games this term in reference to the Czech's performance on the final day of the campaign when Blackburn Rovers pipped Alex Ferguson's side to the title. So, despite van Gaal's claim he does not wish to spoil a fine club's party, there is plenty of historical incentive for the Reds to completely disregard any sentiment.

After all, the decision of the Hammers to move across the capital to the Olympic Stadium is one of their own choice and a cold-hearted business call which makes complete financial sense. So, while the support will rightfully mourn the end of the Boleyn Ground, there is no reason for United to feel any compassion for achieving our own objective.

The devoted travelling Reds, who will be far more concerned with cheering their side to victory rather than witnessing any piece of non-United history, may acknowledge the team must improve on Saturday's showing at Norwich City in order to post a vital victory. Yet the same can be said of Slaven Bilic's charges after their shock 4-1 capitulation to Swansea City - City's opponents on the final day.

So there are no real excuses whatever the emotion of the occasion. United have already proved capable of winning at a ground that was, at the time, considered a fortress when the stakes were just as high and the home camp were remarkably confident of success.

Three points this evening and the Reds' fate will still be in our hands and City, who have only been out of the top four places for three days all season, will approach the final game looking up at their neighbours.

The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and should not be considered as representative of Manchester United Football Club.

Credit: Manutd.com