SIR ALEX STORIES: THE TEAM TALK OLE TOOK FROM THE BOSS

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admits he learned everything he could about being a manager from Sir Alex Ferguson.

That includes one particular motivational speech which Ole regaled to us on his episode of UTD Podcast.

The Norwegian took us back to 1996, when Sir Alex felt his charges needed a lift after a particularly bad run of form, which had included heavy defeats to Newcastle and Southampton in the Premier League.

At training, the legendary gaffer pulled Ole and his team-mates to one side to deliver a choice message, which Solskjaer later used to great effect himself in his first management job, at Norwegian side Molde.

“I wouldn’t have been a manager if I hadn’t met Sir Alex,” Ole told hosts Sam Homewood, David May and Helen Evans, back in December.

“Of course I’ve learned everything I can about managing people and managing football clubs from him.

“Do you know what he said after we lost 5-0 to Newcastle and we lost to Southampton? He gathered us at The Cliff and he said if there’s any ******** in you then you can take your mortgage and put all the money on yourselves winning the league, because you’ll never get better odds.

“And I thought, wow. So we won the league, but we never put the money on did we?

“I used that trick with Molde when we lost 5-0 to Haugesund away [in 2011], just to give the boys that confidence that we believe in you.

“We went on to win the league for the first time in the club’s 100-year history.”

While Solskjaer is indebted to the lessons he learned from Sir Alex during his playing days, he may have gone down a different route in his post-playing career had it not been for a more direct intervention by Ferguson 11 years later.

In the summer of 2007, the Norwegian had decided against having another knee operation, effectively meaning he would have to retire from football.

Although worried about informing Sir Alex, the manager understood Ole’s choice and extended an invitation that would kickstart the chain of events that led to Solskjaer following in his footsteps in the Old Trafford dugout.

“As I’m parking [at the training groun] he’s coming out and he says: ‘How are you son?’

“Not great, I need another operation. I’m not going to do it, I need to retire.”

“‘Well don’t worry son, you’ve had a fantastic career, your family must be so proud, your last season was fantastic. Why don’t you coach my forwards? Go home for a few weeks and come back when you’re ready,’ he said.

“I went away for three weeks, came back and he integrated me into the first-team set-up and I coached Cristiano [Ronaldo], Wazza [Wayne Rooney], [Carlos] Tevez was there.

“So whenever Cristiano or Wayne scored through the defender’s legs, I nudged [son] Noah and say: 'Your dad taught them that.'”

UNITED TO DELIVER 60,000 MEALS TO NHS STAFF

The first of an initial 60,000 prepared meals for NHS staff across Manchester will be dispatched from Old Trafford tomorrow (Friday) in a joint-initiative between United, Manchester United Foundation, Mealforce and the club’s catering supplier, Bidfood.

Over the coming weeks, these meals will be delivered free of charge, across four sites in Manchester, as part of the ongoing effort to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. NHS staff based at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, who would normally have to provide their own meals while on duty, will benefit from the service.

The initiative will involve over 80 permanent and casual club staff, who have volunteered to prepare the food in the kitchens at Old Trafford, in line with UK Government social distancing restrictions. Staff and facility costs are being covered by United while all other costs will be underwritten by Manchester United Foundation.

From there, the club’s catering supplier, Bidfood, will support the daily operation by facilitating the temperature-controlled deliveries across the city, also free of charge.

The initiative is in collaboration with Mealforce, a coalition of organisations which have come together in a co-ordinated philanthropic effort to deliver more than 500,000 meals, in the last four weeks, to frontline NHS workers across the UK. Mealforce works under the umbrella of Helpforce, a charity which supports volunteering in the NHS.

Peter Blythin, executive director of Workforce and Corporate Business at MFT said: “Thank you to Manchester United, Bidfood and Mealforce for this very generous offer for our hard-working NHS staff. These meals will be a great boost to our teams at Oxford Road Campus in Manchester city centre, Trafford General Hospital and Wythenshawe Hospital, as we all work hard together in our response to COVID-19.”

Dr Pete Turkington, chief officer and medical director at Salford Royal, said: “A huge thank-you to Manchester United, Bidfood and Mealforce for this fantastic donation; your generosity is very much appreciated.

“We have been overwhelmed by the continued outpouring of support by the local community and businesses, who have been so generous with their donations for our staff during these incredibly challenging times.”

Ian Wace, the businessman who has led the Mealforce initiative, said: “Manchester United is a very generous addition to the Mealforce coalition and I’d like thank them and all the businesses, individuals and charities who have come together to support our amazing NHS workers.”

John Shiels, chief executive of Manchester United Foundation said: “While many of our regular programmes have been disrupted by the pandemic, Manchester United Foundation is doing everything possible to continue helping the communities that we serve during this period of elevated need. Delivering meals to local hospitals is a wonderful initiative that unites the Old Trafford workforce in its support of the NHS; I thank everyone for their commitment to this inspiring scheme.”

Collette Roche, chief operating officer at Manchester United, said: “It is an honour to provide this service as part of our support to the NHS. We are all indebted to them for what they are doing to protect and care for us all.

“Our talented chefs and catering team are extremely proud to be making a contribution to the national effort at this time.”

FRED CERTAIN HE'LL GET MORE GOALS FROM MIDFIELD

Fred is promising to supply more goals from midfield when football restarts and feels the capture of Bruno Fernandes will help him in this regard.

The Brazilian has grown into his role in the side and was adding more potency going forward, when football was suspended in March. Indeed, he netted twice in the 5-0 win against Club Brugge in the Europa League at the end of February, which tripled his overall tally for the Reds to three.

He also managed a couple of assists in the last game before the pause, the 5-0 victory at LASK.

When we asked if he was looking to score more often, he replied: “I hope so as it's always important to score goals. I've been working on it and, with Bruno's arrival, we've got someone who gives us more freedom, given his quality with the ball at his feet.

“So I hope to attack and score more goals and work hard on my finishing to score more goals in a season. I'm certain that, with Bruno's arrival, more goals will come.”

Fred feels at home in his current position in the side and was thriving under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the Reds chased trophies at home and abroad.

“My favourite role is where I've been playing,” he explained. “As a second central midfielder, defending solidly but also getting forward and looking to score goals. I think it's important that a central midfielder has good approach play and finishing skills. The way I've been playing is the way I like to play and I feel really good in this position.”

The South American opened his account for United in the home draw with Wolves last season, and that remains a special memory for him.

In fact, he singled it out as the highlight of his stay at Old Trafford, so far.

“There was the game against Brugge this season, where I scored twice,” he said. “Up until then, I'd been playing well but I hadn't been scoring. I think scoring in that game was the crowning achievement of all the hard work I'd been putting in this season.

“However the most special moment of all for me was my first goal for United against Wolverhampton. My wife was pregnant, we hadn't had [our son] Benjamin yet, and I could dedicate the goal to him, I scored and celebrated like this [sucking his thumb].

“So I think that's the most special moment in my United career. There was so much emotion with the fans cheering the goal, I was celebrating together with my team-mates. So, out of all the moments I've had at United, that was the best.“

WOODWARD RESPONDS TO FANS' QUESTIONS

Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward feels football is “not complete” without supporters, but acknowledges that Government guidelines may mean a return to action behind closed doors is the only option available.

Speaking at the Fans' Forum last Friday, Woodward made it clear that everybody's health was, of course, the main priority during the coronavirus pandemic that has necessitated a halt to football.

As plans are explored in an attempt to conclude the 2020/21 campaign when it is deemed safe to do so, he explained his thoughts on the subject and also stressed the club's continued long-term commitment to backing manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the transfer market, even if it will not be “business as usual” when the window reopens.

“I think we all agree that we want supporters back watching football at Old Trafford as soon as possible,” said Woodward. “But that can only happen when we are advised it is safe to do so and, clearly, the Government has a major say in that.

”No decisions have been made yet but we think it is possible that the initial games, particularly the ones related to finishing or trying to complete this season, will probably have to be played behind closed doors. But that is not confirmed yet.

“We're not necessarily happy about that. Clearly, football requires our fans in the stadium for it to be complete, but public health must come first and, as I said, this is down to the Government.”

It was reiterated that, despite the present uncertainty, there is a determination to complete the season. However, he did not anticipate any potential move to play the Premier League games abroad.

“I've not heard anything on that,” he said. “I would expect our remaining domestic games to be played in England.”

Some fans will still be keen to hear the latest on the transfer front, even though the next window will surely be hugely impacted, as Ed has already intimated. Nonetheless, the club's main aim is to continue competing for the best talent and improving the squad, once it has more certainty about a path through the current crisis.

“It’s always a top priority for us to strengthen the team and build on what Ole is very clearly achieving in terms of bringing us back to the top,” added Woodward. “But we’ve got to have clarity on what the future holds.

“Clearly, it’s true we are fortunate to be in a strong financial position compared to many clubs, but we are not immune from the financial impact of what this virus is doing.

“I would say that once we have that visibility of a path through the crisis and coming out of the other side to relative normality, then, of course, we aim to remain highly competitive in the market.

“As I said before and I’ve said this many times - we remain committed to backing Ole to win trophies. That’s our core objective as a club.”

HOW SIR ALEX IS MANAGING THE LOCKDOWN

Former Manchester United kitman Albert Morgan has happily revealed Sir Alex Ferguson is taking the ongoing lockdown in his stride – even if Lady Cathy is managing his famous work ethic!

Manchester-born Morgan was part of the backroom staff and inside the changing room for the majority of Sir Alex’s reign, starting in 1993 and retiring at the same time as the boss in 2013.

Albert remains a great friend of Sir Alex’s and has been speaking with him on a daily basis, as Morgan explained during his amusing appearance on Tuesday’s episode of MUTV Group Chat.

“I speak to him almost every day and he is on a total lockdown at the moment,” revealed Morgan. “He has not been out of the house.

“I think his Mrs has had to nail his feet down!

“He is in good form, he is doing his exercises every morning.

“He has got his dumbbells out, he is on his rowing machine, his walking machine, so yeah he is doing well.”

WHEN MORGAN RECEIVED THE HAIRDRYER

While Albert and Sir Alex are lifelong friends after their years together in the dressing room, our legendary former kitman admits he twice received the famous 'hairdryer' treatment from the boss.

Morgan is unwilling to talk about one of those occasions – so it must have been bad! – yet the other instance is one the pair still disagree about to this day, as he explained on our MUTV Group Chat.

“I had two 'hairdryers' and that’s all,” said Albert. “One, I probably deserved and one we still argue about. I won’t talk about the one I deserved, but the one we argued about I will tell.

“I used to go down to London on the team coach in the morning when the boys were going down on the train. This particular morning I told Sir Alex, ‘right I’m off to London now on the coach and I’ll see you at Euston’. He asked me to take his bag on the coach, so I got hold of it and off we go.

“A couple of hours later, after training, he rings me back and asks me to bring his bag up to the office because he wanted a book out of it. I said, ‘Gaffer, I’m going past Luton Airport!’

“Well, he started ranting and raving, and he put the phone down! We get to London, to the ground and I laid all the gear out. All of the lads are telling me he’s after me, he’s after me. Scholesy is pointing me out to him! So I get on the coach at the back door because Sir Alex always sat at the front. I wouldn’t go anywhere near him! But the lads are still winding me up, pointing me out.

“We get to the hotel and they are all at it again as I’m unloading the bus. ‘Gaffer, he’s here, here he is’. So I just kept out of his way. I had a bath in the hotel and went downstairs for something to eat. Mick Phelan starts then when we’re in the bar having a drink – ‘here he is boss, he’s here!’

“But I still stayed out of his way. ‘The lovers have had a tiff’, they were all saying. But then, suddenly, he comes down the corridor out of nowhere and straight into the dining room. He just put his arm around my shoulder and he said, ‘give us a kiss’!”

THE SECRET OF SIR ALEX’S SUCCESS

“He let people get on with their job,” explained Albert, when quizzed on his former boss. “He learned how to delegate to all of his staff and so long as you do your job and to your best of your ability - it was hard work - but your enthusiasm got you through. He never bothered you.

As for his own success as the kitman, inside the dressing room for everything, Morgan joked: “I used to keep him informed about everything! [laughs] I was on the fence between the staff and the players, I was the one bouncing on the fence. It was a nightmare – it kept me awake some nights!”

MUFC MOMENT: 'THE BEST I'VE FELT ON A FOOTBALL PITCH'

Rising midfield star Scott McTominay has admitted that his stunning goal in the recent Manchester derby gave him the best feeling he's ever experienced on a football pitch.

The 23-year-old has been at United since the age of just five and made his first-team debut in May 2017, but picked his most recent match at Old Trafford when we asked him for his favourite 'MUFC Moment'.

The Reds led Manchester City 1-0 when McTominay entered the field of play in the 78th minute as a replacement for Anthony Martial, who had scored the opener for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side during the first half.

McTominay's designated role was surely to help contain and break up the visitors' increasingly desperate attempts to find an equaliser, but when a loose throw from City goalkeeper Ederson rolled towards him, he hit a remarkable 40-yard drive into the vacant Blues' goal to make the game safe.

That sparked delirium among the 70,000-plus United fans inside the ground, and meant personal ecstasy for McTominay.

“Manchester City at home is probably the best that I've ever felt on a football pitch in my life!” the Scotland international explained.

“The feeling that you experience there, the rush of emotions going through the whole stadium, was incredible. For me, being injured for two months or three months, it was massive, that. To come back into the team and obviously try and help the boys from not starting the game, and showing the manager that you're not sulking and that you're ready to come on whenever you're needed, is so important for myself.”

McTominay had missed just shy of two months' football between December and February, after damaging his knee in the 4-1 win over Newcastle United on Boxing Day.

The impressive and industrious midfielder drew praise from fans for his relatively quick return to first-team action, but admitted that his rehabilitation period had been mentally and physically testing.

“The sacrifices that I went through from being injured were massive,” said the Reds' no.39. “You dedicate your whole life to coming back and being fit and sharp and ready, and almost like [a] you've never been missed sort of thing.”

The goal was the Academy graduate's fifth of the season, and his second in little over a week. In his first start since the injury, against Club Brugge on 27 February, McTominay had netted a gorgeous strike from the edge of the area a few minutes before half-time.

But the moment against City – our last game at Old Trafford before the UK's COVID-19-enforced lockdown – remains foremost in his mind.

“There's a big list of feelings that I've been proud [of] after games,” he noted. “Obviously making your debut, scoring your first goal – those feelings of achieving something like that is so important for a young kid who's come through the Academy, as well.

“Hopefully there's many more to come and plenty of achievements that you do relish and are very, very proud of.”

GREEN LIGHT FOR UNITED'S BARRIER-SEATING TRIAL

Manchester United has confirmed approval from Trafford Council for a barrier seating-trial to take place at Old Trafford.

United submitted a proposal to the local authority earlier in the year, following changes to the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds (Green Guide) and a subsequent feasibility study, which was carried out by the club. Approval for this was confirmed to supporters' representatives at last week’s Fans’ Forum and follows longstanding discussions held with Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST) and the Fans’ Forum in recent years.

The approval from Trafford Council is an agreement in principle for the club to install around 1,500 barrier seats in the North-East Quadrant, in sections N2401 and N2402. United will now discuss installation options with potential suppliers, working within current UK Government recommendations relating to construction site operating procedures and social distancing. Discussions will also take place with the SGSA to ratify the required amendments to the club’s stadium licence.

Managing director Richard Arnold said: “It should be stated, up front, that our overwhelming priority is to keep our people safe from the COVID-19 pandemic. It may seem strange to talk about stadium plans at this time, but football and our fans will return when it is safe, and our preparations for that must continue in the background.

“This announcement is the latest step in what has been a long journey with our fans. We have listened to their feedback, in particular, the representations made by MUST, and worked with Trafford Council to develop and approve this proposal.

“Our belief is that the introduction of barrier seats will enhance spectator safety in areas of the stadium where – as with other clubs – we have seen examples of persistent standing. It also allows us to future-proof the stadium in the event of any changes to the current all-seater stadium policy. If the trial is successful, we may consider further implementation of barrier seating in other parts of the stadium.

“We will now move on to develop the installation, compliance and licensing plan for the trial, with a view to having the new seats installed for when we can welcome our supporters back to Old Trafford.”

The barrier-seating trial is part of our broader plans to develop the stadium in ways which enhance the matchday experience for supporters. Separately, in February, United announced the extension of the atmosphere section in the Stretford End in the south-west corner as part of the season-ticket launch for 2020/21.

Arnold concluded: “Both of these initiatives underline our commitment to the continued improvement of Old Trafford, with a focus on further enhancing the matchday experience, atmosphere and safety for all supporters.”

Shaw's diary: Scott and Jesse are the benchmark

Hi everyone, I hope you’re all keeping well and staying safe during lockdown. Things have certainly been pretty hectic in our house, as we’ve got our baby boy Reign keeping us busy.

If we were playing and travelling in the season as normal right now, I wouldn’t get to spend anywhere near as much time with him or see him grow, but the month I’ve spent inside with him has been wonderful. I recognise that I’m very lucky not only to be healthy right now, but also spending so much time with him every day.

I think my favourite part of the day is when he wakes up first thing in the morning, I wake up and see him smiling back at me. That’s just the best thing in the world. It makes it so easy to get up and start the day when he’s there grinning back at you. Waking up, knowing he’s there and he’s happy is the best feeling.

Over the last month, I’ve watched Shrek about 500 times because Reign absolutely loves it, so I’ve watched that and bits of kids’ TV. My girlfriend and I have watched loads of series on TV and Netflix, like Ozark, Peaky Blinders, Gangs of London, and I’ve just started The People versus OJ Simpson. My girlfriend was properly onto me, telling me I had to watch it… it’s a bit mad but really enjoyable so far. I’ve had a bit of time on my Xbox, but not as much as you might expect, just because of the amount of time I’m spending with my family.

Lockdown is hard for everyone, and although I’m lucky to have my family to spend my time with, I can imagine that there could be players struggling with it. Some footballers enjoy their time at home, having downtime inside, but there are others who really enjoy getting out of the house. For them, their day in and day out are vastly different now, so that could be a struggle.

I think working out has been therapeutic for a lot of players. I tend to do that myself, I’ve tended to be in the gym more, just because you feel better after a good workout. Your mind is refreshed, you’ve done something active and worthwhile and you’ve earned some relaxation. It takes a lot of stress away from the situation.

Fitness challenges set by the coaches have been really good for the United lads. Naturally, we all get quite competitive over them. Scotty posted his 5km time on social media last week, which was a joke, something like 16 minutes. I don’t even know if it’s real. Harry did one today at 18 minutes, which is a really good time, but Scotty is a joke.

He’s one of the fittest in the team and, if I’m not wrong, I think his dad was a runner. He must be giving him tips and training him up at the moment. It’s unbelievable how fast that time is. When I saw it, I put it into the treadmill to check the speed, and it was some ridiculous level, just a flat-out sprint, for 5km. Unbelievable. He’s a big, tall lad though, so maybe his big stride had something to do with it, but he’s a machine. Jesse too, actually. Those two are setting the benchmark that everybody needs to get to.

We were all speaking about it earlier on today at our first virtual group training session, which was a big positive for everyone. Because of the squad size, we have to be in separate video groups. We had Kieran McKenna and Michael Carrick doing it this morning, checking we were all doing it right, plus the sports scientists.

We were doing core and leg strength exercises because hopefully in the next few weeks we might be edging closer to a return to training. If we’re all at similar fitness levels then we’ll be able to get the ball rolling quicker when we get back to the training ground. Normally we see everyone every day, but obviously now that isn’t the case, so it’s nice to catch up, see some faces and have a few jokes with everyone.

In my group this morning, everyone seemed really happy, well and healthy, which is the most important thing. I think we’re just looking forward, but we know we have to stay patient. We just have to stick with it, listen to the guidelines and rules and just get ready for the end of lockdown so we can all get back to training together.

Until then, everyone stay safe.

Luke.

FAN QUESTIONS

Denis Irwin or Patrice Evra? [via @ErickStranz]
Oh wow. Denis was a little bit before my time, but a lot of people who saw him play more than I have just say that he was fantastic. He was mainly right-footed but could work brilliantly on either side, but then Patrice was more my era and he was absolutely world class. They’re both massive legends, two of the best full-backs we’ve had, but Denis could play either side and I’ve seen clips of him scoring some wonderful free-kicks, so I’ll have to just about go for him.

Do you prefer left-back or left centre-back, where you’ve had some of your best games this season? [via @allano47767911]
I don’t really mind left centre-back because it was obviously something different for me. I thought I’d always prefer left-back because that’s where I’ve always played, but I’ve actually really enjoyed playing left centre-back, so wherever the manager puts me, I’ll play. But if I have to pick one, I’ll go for left-back.

Hardest opponents you’ve faced? [via @DebnamCareyUK]
People always think I’m joking, but one of my hardest games ever was against Victor Moses when I was coming in as a 17-year-old at Southampton. Maybe because I was so young. He was really quick, direct, strong and that was a challenge for me. I’ve played against the likes of Gareth Bale, Messi and Hazard, and they were all so good, but I always remember Victor Moses as a really tough opponent as well.

Which player has helped you develop the most over the years? [via @sammy_7210]
That’s tough. There have been a few… I think back when Ibra was at the club, he would push everyone mentally and physically in training. He made you stronger and I took a lot from him when he was at the club. The way he was, he could be very challenging, but he pushes everyone because he wants to win and he makes you mentally strong as well. Another one I’d say is Pogba. He’s always been good with me. He’s always telling me to believe in myself, telling me that he believes in me, so he’s one that I’d say always pushes me in training. He’s always said positive things to me that have driven me on, so I’d have to say Paul is a big influence.

Scott and Jesse pick their all-time Academy XI

Scott McTominay and Jesse Lingard were asked to select their all-time XI from homegrown Manchester United players during the latest UTD Podcast episode.

The Academy graduates had an interesting debate on the team and there was some final chopping and changing, which, ultimately, resulted in one of the current crop, Brandon Williams, getting the nod while another, Marcus Rashford, was edged out in attack.

You can hear the detailed discussion by downloading the full podcast.

We take a closer look at the players picked by the two Reds...

GOALKEEPER: DAVID GASKELL

United's youngest-ever player when he made a shock debut in the 1956 Charity Shield against Manchester City. He went to rack up 120 games between the sticks for the club in 13 years of service with the senior side.

“He's got the most appearances and he's the one I was looking at on the list,” said Scott. “He's our no1.”

RIGHT-BACK: GARY NEVILLE

A reliable defender for club and country, who is third on the club's list of top appearance-makers in the Premier League with 400 games. The Sky Sports pundit won the title eight times with his boyhood side.

“We’ve got to put Gary Neville in there," explained Scott. “He’s a club legend. He’s got to be – 100 per cent."

CENTRE-BACK: WES BROWN

The classy former England international made an impressive debut marking Leeds United danger-man Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in 1998 and was very highly regarded by Sir Alex Ferguson, who described him as the country's most natural defender. After 362 outings for the Reds, he moved to Sunderland.

“I think we’ve got to go for Wes," insisted Jesse.

CENTRE-BACK: JONNY EVANS

The Northern Ireland stalwart, now with Leicester City, won three titles with the team he supported growing up and also lifted the FIFA Club World Cup in 2008. In total, he made 198 appearances for United under Sir Alex.

“I’m going to go for Jonny,” said Jesse, then told Jonny's wife, Helen, one of the UTD Podcast presenters. “Come on Helen, give us a smile now!”

LEFT-BACK: BRANDON WILLIAMS

Despite only making his breakthrough this season, appearing 26 times, one of our current crop was selected ahead of Phil Neville and John O'Shea. The defender scored his first senior goal in the 3-3 draw at Sheffield United.

“Let’s go for Brandon,” stated Scott. “We’ve got to have Phil Neville in there somewhere, we can put him on the bench."

CENTRE-MIDFIELD: DAVID BECKHAM

The former England skipper remains one of the greatest set-piece takers and assist-makers in the club's history. A player with an extraordinary work ethic, he scored 85 goals in 394 games for the Reds before joining Real Madrid in 2003. The midfielder was Man of the Match in the 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich, as the Reds clinched the Treble.

Jesse agreed with Scott on the subject, saying: “Yes, let's put Becks in midfield.”

CENTRE-MIDFIELD: PAUL SCHOLES

There was great debate around who would get the two central slots, with so much competition for places. Scholesy, third in the all-time list of appearance-makers on 718, was impossible to ignore. “If he doesn't make it, we might as well all give up and go home,” said Sir Alex about the young midfielder, before he had earned a place in the senior side.

“Scholesy is nailed on,” stressed Scott. “He’s there.”

CENTRE-MIDFIELD: PAUL POGBA

Another current player who gets into the XI, the France international is in his second spell with the Reds after winning the FA Youth Cup back in 2011. A decade on, he is generally recognised as one of the finest creative players in Europe and has 150 appearances for the club under his belt.

“He always wanted to come back to United,” said Jesse. “He’s also won the World Cup as well, which is the cherry on top."

RIGHT-WING: GEORGE BEST

Rated by many as the best footballer they have ever seen, the legendary wide man from Belfast was instrumental in the club winning the European Cup for the first time in 1968, scoring a solo goal in the final against Benfica. He played in 470 matches, following his debut against West Brom in 1963, and scored 179 times – only four players have netted more goals for United.

“I think George Best has to be on the right,” explained Scott. “But then where does David Beckham come into this?”

CENTRE-FORWARD: BOBBY CHARLTON

After initially being chosen in midfield, the iconic England legend was moved into an attacking role. With 249 goals in 758 games for the Reds, the Munich survivor's part in the club's history will be forever remembered. He netted twice in the emotional European Cup triumph over Benfica in 1968.

“I think Sir Bobby has to go up top,” was Jesse's verdict.

LEFT-WING: RYAN GIGGS

The man who surpassed Sir Bobby's appearance record, going on to register an incredible 963 games, and, quite simply, the most decorated player in English football. A Champions League winner in 1999 and 2008, he has 13 Premier League winners' medals, and also lifted the FA Cup four times.

“Ryan Giggs is one of the best players ever at this football club,” was Scott's opinion of the ex-Wales international.

“Marcus won’t be happy with you, Jess,” commented Scott. “I’m not getting involved!”

Rashford had to settle for a place among the substitutes, along with Phil Neville, Michael Clegg, Nicky Butt and Darren Fletcher.

“I think Marcus will be disappointed but, when he wins the Premier League, he can get in,” added Scott.

VAN GAAL AND MOURINHO NEVER ABANDONED ACADEMY

Treble-winning hero Nicky Butt has claimed that Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho received unfair criticism for their treatment of Manchester United's famed Academy.

The 45-year-old, who is now the club's head of first-team development, admitted that certain cultural changes have been made since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Mike Phelan returned to Old Trafford in December 2018.

However, the former midfielder was also keen to stress that the managers who led the club during the years following Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement never disregarded United's intense focus on producing homegrown players for the senior squad, describing the notion that they did as a “myth”.

“I think it’s harsh on van Gaal and Mourinho, and David Moyes to a point, because they didn’t come into Man United and go this is it, move it all to one side, disrespect Man United and we’ll do it this way,” said Butt, while taking part in the latest MUTV Group Chat.

“They didn’t. They never did – it’s a myth that they did.

“Mourinho was brilliant with me. He spoke to me every single day at breakfast and asked about the kids. He did a few meetings with the kids when they were going to Portugal [in the UEFA Youth League] and telling them what to expect and so on. So there’s a bit of unfair press on those managers, I feel.”

While the Gorton-born member of the famed 'Class of '92' has spent much of his life at United, he is sympathetic to managers who arrive at a new club and feel they must do things in their own way.

“If me and you and Ben [Thornley] and Maysie [David May] said 'Let’s go and work at Real Madrid', you’re not going to know anybody,” he continued.

“There’s that many people that stab you in the back in football as you all know. If you’re going into an environment you don’t know, you’re not going to open the door to every Tom, Dick and Harry, because you don’t know who these people are, you don’t know where they’re going. So you can understand both sides of the story.

“Obviously, I prefer the way it is now, I preferred the way it was when we were there [as players], but that’s because we knew everybody. You trusted the canteen staff, you trusted the cleaning staff, because you knew them when you were 16, so we can look at it in a bubble and go 'all these managers come in here and it’s shocking' but I don’t think it is, because you’ve got to put yourself in their position, and if you went out to a club you didn’t know, it’ll be totally different.”

But although the former Red was keen to defend the former managers, Butt admits Solskjaer and Phelan have brought a “comfort” that enables key principles to be emphasised across the whole club.

“One thing about Ole and Mike coming into a group with Kieran [McKenna] and Michael [Carrick], they've known the club inside out for many, many years,” he explained. “I remember the day Ole walked in!”

“So they know it better than anybody and what they’ve brought in is a bit of 'let’s get back to normality'. Let’s get back to what we fundamentally think is right as a club. Forget the football side – just as a club. The whole canteen is re-opened again, we’re all eating together again, all the kids are into the pool and the gym together and so on. But you flip the coin and you can understand why some managers close the canteen to themselves; I can understand why they closed the gym to themselves.

“What Ole and Mike bring now is the comfort that we can be ourselves and we can be open around the building and we can be engaging with every single person in the building.

“And, on the football pitch, they want to get back to winning ways in the right style, which is attacking, fast-flowing, introducing young Academy players into the team and get back to winning ways.”

THE TWO BRAZILIAN LEGENDS WHO INSPIRE ANDREAS

Manchester United midfielder Andreas Pereira has highlighted the two Brazilian players who inspired him on his journey to becoming an international footballer.

The 24-year-old name Barcelona icon Ronaldinho and former AC Milan playmaker Kaka as childhood idols, in the latest episode of our ‘My Inspiration’ series.

Both players won the Ballon D’Or and the Champions League in the mid-2000s, while at international level the pair were part of the national side’s 2002 FIFA World Cup success.

“Of course, Brazil has a lot of players but I always enjoyed watching Kaka and Ronaldinho, because they played in more or less my position,” says Andreas, who won his first cap for the Selecao in 2018.

“When I used to watch Ronaldinho with his dribbling skills and the way he played, I was a fan of that.

“With Kaka, you know, he’s really fast and he scores goals and for me, both are players I look up to.”

Another all-time great receives a mention during Andreas’s interview.

The midfielder, who has made 72 appearances for United, scoring four goals, names former Red Cristiano Ronaldo as his ‘ideal footballer’ and says he tried to copy him when he was a youngster.

“He was at United, he had an unbelievable shot,” adds the Brazilian. “He had skills, he was fast, so he was like a complete player.

“I always try to do the same things on the pitch like him. I practise my shot and my free-kicks because of him.

“That’s when I really started to play football and when I understood a little bit more I looked at his style of play.”

When asked to name the manager who had helped him most during his career, Andreas is unequivocal in his answer.

“A coach who inspired and helped me a lot is definitely Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] now.

“For sure you can see the career he had, and now as a manager at United, that he could help me.

“From day one he was there to help me and it inspired me the way he played in his career and now that he can help me it’s fantastic.”

WHY FANS ARE BUZZING ABOUT DE GEA'S LATEST COMMENTS

Manchester United goalkeeper and fans’ favourite David De Gea has expressed his desire to enjoy many more seasons at the club.

The Spaniard started his reign as our no.1 when he completed a 2011 transfer from Atletico Madrid and he is about to complete a ninth campaign as a Red, before celebrating his 10-year anniversary in 2021.

De Gea signed a new long-term contract earlier this season and currently has 394 United appearances to his name, which is only four less than the legendary Peter Schmeichel tallied.

Once David overtakes the Great Dane – hopefully in the near future – he will move to second on the list of goalkeepers with the most United appearances: 1968 European Cup winner Alex Stepney is still way clear on 539 outings.

While speaking on our exclusive United Hangout with the current goalkeeping union, De Gea looks forward to reaching his decade of service at Old Trafford.

“Yeah, I am getting older,” jokes 29-year-old David, when quizzed on the prospect. “Just to be a part of this club is amazing, so imagine being here for nearly 10 years – it is something like a dream! It is great to play games with this club and I hope I can be here for many more [years].”

De Gea has recorded 138 clean sheets from his 394 appearances so far and only three United goalkeepers have kept more, in the form of Gary Bailey (138), Stepney (175) and Schmeichel (180).

Prior to this ongoing break from football, David had personally helped the Reds to tally five of nine clean sheets that were earned during an 11-match unbeaten run across all competitions, with his reliable Argentinian team-mate Sergio Romero contributing to the other four.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men were riding the crest of a wave and De Gea is confident the team is improving, pointing to the form of Bruno Fernandes as a contributing factor.

“I have seen the whole team improve a lot and we were in a good moment,” says David. “I think we were in top form, we didn't concede many goals and of course with Bruno. He brings a lot of quality, he is a clever player, a top midfielder, the team improves with him and it was a pity that everything stops because we were in a good moment. Hopefully, with some players who were injured, they will be fit when everything starts again so it is going to be a good challenge for everyone.”

Like the entire United squad, De Gea is currently training from home as part of the ongoing lockdown and he acknowledges this is an unprecedented time. Thankfully, his family and friends in Spain are in good health, and our world-class no.1 is keen for everybody to remain positive.

“Well, it is something special, to be always at home, but right now the most important thing is the health of the people, for me in Spain and in England as well,” he says. “It is a bit strange but we need to keep doing some things at home, keep training to be fit when we get back, but it is a bit strange.

“Family is very good, so at the moment all of my friends and family are all good. But a lot of people are in a difficult situation with the virus and everything. What is happening now is something unreal, but that is life at the moment and I want to send a strong message for everyone to keep fighting and hopefully this will be finished soon.”

INSIDE ROMERO'S RETURN TO ARGENTINA

Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero has told an incredible tale of how he travelled across the world and self-isolated for two weeks, so he could look after his family in Argentina.

In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer permitted several members of his squad to return home and our 33-year-old stopper was among those who departed Manchester.

However, as Romero explains during our United Hangout with the goalkeeping union, his journey back to South America was far from simple and required great mental strength on his part.

“Argentina is locked down, the country, and it is now over one month since the president said we need to stay at home, we need to do the quarantine, because it is the best for the people,” says Sergio.

“I came back to Argentina on 22 March. I did my travelling, which was really, really hard, because I went in a car from Manchester to London. After that I took a plane from London to Paris. Not many people were in the airport, but all the people were keeping a safe distance from each other.

“All of the people were looking really nervous or looking badly to the other people, because sometimes someone does this [sneezes]. Maybe they didn't have anything, but the people looked a little bit strange [at them] and took their distance.

“Also, in the plane, I flew from Paris to Buenos Aires, 14 hours. I just sit my body in the plane and I don't move for 14 hours. I don't eat and I don't go to the toilet, because you never know how is the people.

“When I arrived here in Argentina, I was for 14 days in the hotel because many people, when you come back from Europe, you need to stay in quarantine alone.

“I stayed in a hotel for two weeks after they did the test in my nose and my mouth and I waited three more days in the hotel and, after the result is negative, I came to my house with my family.

“But, you know, the most important thing is to stay at home, stay safe, do the little things just for the family, like just going to the supermarket, or to the pharmacy.

“Don't move from the house. This is the most important thing in this moment.”

While Romero has travelled home to Argentina, his team-mate David De Gea remains in Manchester and the 29-year-old is keen to underline the importance of following government guidelines.

“Well, it is something special, to be always at home, but right now the most important thing is the health of the people, for me in Spain and in England as well,” he says. “It is a bit strange but we need to keep doing some things at home, keep training to be fit when we get back, but it is a bit strange.

“Family is very good, so at the moment all of my friends and family are all good. But a lot of people are in a difficult situation with the virus and everything.

“What is happening now is something unreal, but that is life at the moment and I want to send a strong message for everyone to keep fighting and hopefully this will be finished soon.”

MCTOMINAY CONFIRMS HE NEARLY MADE LOAN MOVE

Scott McTominay has confirmed there was a very real prospect of him leaving Manchester United on loan, before he managed to nail down a regular place in the side under Jose Mourinho.

Speaking during the upcoming episode of UTD Podcast, in which he appears alongside Jesse Lingard, the Scotland international suggests he could have followed his fellow Academy graduate in furthering his education away from Old Trafford.

There was plenty of speculation, at the time, that the midfielder was attracting attention from a number of clubs, both in England and north of the border.

“About a year-and-a-half ago, there was a time when it might have been a possibility but then somebody else leaves or something like that,“ McTominay said during the podcast. “And then your opportunity comes and you have to take it.

“You hear loads of stories about boys going on loan, and different things like that, and I always had it in my head that I don’t want that. I want to be showing myself here first and, if it doesn’t work here, then you go somewhere else.

“For me, you hear the stories about getting the life of luxury at Manchester United and people take that for granted; like the food in the canteen, your kit being laid out for you every morning. People just expect that and you have to always remember where you came from, in that respect, and always appreciate what people do for you. I feel like that is the culture that is brought through for us.”

The 23-year-old has gone on to be a key performer for the Reds, returning from injury to provide more evidence of his growing maturity and influence, and earning the same trust from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that he enjoyed with former boss Mourinho.

Often, however, youngsters head out on loan in order to obtain valuable experience of competing in the senior game.

Lingard had spells with Leicester City, Birmingham City, Brighton & Hove Albion and Derby County before establishing himself in United's midfield, showing there are numerous different paths for the graduates to take.

“I always worked hard,” said Lingard. “I always stayed behind [after training], always did the right thing. I think it’s just about working hard, and sticking to the plan but, sometimes you go off course.

“I went on loan, I had to battle there and fight for my place when I came back to United. I got injured on my debut [against Swansea City] and I was out for six months, so I have had a lot of setbacks but, if you keep fighting, work hard and keep believing, your dreams will come true.”

“It’s the biggest club in the world so it’s tough to start at the bottom and work your way up. There are a lot of obstacles along the way, a lot of highs and lows, but when you finally get to the end, and you’re playing for the first team, week in and week out, you cherish every moment that you’ve been through.”

UNITED'S MIDFIELD OPTIONS ARE NOW PERFECT

Manchester United assistant coach Michael Carrick believes the Reds now have the perfect blend and balance in midfield, with everybody fit and hoping football can resume in the near future.

Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will have some tough decisions to make when it comes to his team selection as Paul Pogba should be over his foot injury, while Bruno Fernandes's arrival in January has been an exciting development.

Scott McTominay looked back to his best after his own lay-off, Fred started adding goals to his energetic game and Nemanja Matic had brought a calm assurance and experience. Juan Mata was another in-form contributor and Jesse Lingard appeared to be regaining his spark.

Furthermore, Andreas Pereira scored our final goal before the enforced break, Angel Gomes is waiting patiently for his chance to shine and James Garner earned special praise for his work in training this week from Fred, during an interview with the Brazilian media.

It all adds up to a tremendous array of talent ready to help the Reds pick up where we left off when things do get under way again.

Michael and ex-skipper Bryan Robson took part in an exclusive 'Midfield Masterclass' discussion with MUTV's Mark Sullivan recently and the intense competition was a topic up for debate.

“It's nice to have something we haven't had for an awful long time this season,” said Carrick. “We've had injuries and you want competition.

“I think the beauty of it is the variety of different options the boys give you. They've all got their own strengths and can play together in combinations. They can play in twos or threes together, and all bring something different. It's the perfect blend and balance, if you like, and I'm looking forward to seeing it. Sometimes, we've been forced to play the lads who've been fit and they've played well and done that.

“Fred and Nemanja have done terrific as a two and complemented each other and blended together really well.

“It's about getting the right mix and certain games suit certain things. It's up to us as a staff, and Ole as manager, to see who suits certain games but, all of a sudden, everybody is fit and, with Bruno coming into the squad, it's a lovely variety to choose from.”

Bruno added flair and a positive outlook following his arrival from Sporting Lisbon, and the return of Pogba into the mix, with his world-class skills is something all supporters are eagerly anticipating.

Reds legend Robson offered his opinion on the midfield situation and feels a regular run of games brought the best out of Matic and Fred.

“Matic wasn't getting too many games and, every time he came, in he looked a bit rusty, to me, and Fred was exactly the same,” he said. “McTominay was coming on leaps and bounds but then he gets his injury. All of a sudden, Matic and Fred are getting more opportunities of playing regularly, and I thought both of their fitness came on really well.

“Nemanja is one of them, a good interceptor who reads the game well, like Michael did. Fred loves a tackle! Sometimes, he's a bit rash but he loves to get about the park and I thought we saw the best of those two in the last 15-16 games we played.

“Definitely, Fernandes has helped them a lot with the way he got on the ball and his passing range and vision. And then taking it on board to hit off shots early, the way he did, was brilliant.

“I think that balance worked really well and it's why we were on a good run.”

HOW UNITED'S KEEPERS ARE TRAINING DURING LOCKDOWN

Manchester United’s goalkeepers are having to think outside the box to keep themselves fit and active during the current lockdown.

With football suspended due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the entire squad having to train at home, it has been a test drawing up plans to ensure David De Gea, Sergio Romero and Lee Grant are mentally and physically ready for whenever the campaign does resume.

That’s the view of Michael Clegg, our first-team strength and power coach, who works closely with goalkeeping coaches Richard Hartis and Craig Mawson.

“Ultimately, it is a challenge in this environment,” said Clegg in our Goalkeeper Hangout, featuring De Gea, Romero, Grant and the trio of coaches. “When we first got asked to work from home, it was a case of what do the boys need [in order] to do the training over this extended period of time?

“We didn’t know if that was going to be three weeks, six weeks or 12 weeks. So first of all, I think, quite rightly, we’ve spoke about the players' overall wellbeing, their mental health and connection to their families, and whether they’ve got to travel abroad or stay in their local town.

“Again we have to start thinking about their routine and what type of stuff is going to help them stay motivated.

“We’ve got physiological changes throughout the season but also getting the testosterone around their body to make them feel good again. We wanted to get a group dynamic, that was important, so we decided to work at it over a long period of time.”

While De Gea and Grant have remained in the Manchester area, Romero travelled back home to Argentina last month to be with his family.

With that in mind, and after a gruelling opening few months to 2020, the keepers were given some time off when the effects of the pandemic first started to hit.

Now, though, the workload has started to ramp up, with tailored, individual plans designed by the team for each goalkeeper.

“We thought it was best to give them a bit of downtime,” added Clegg. “It’s been a long season, with a game every three or four days, so we felt like, especially with Sergio travelling back to Argentina, we’ll give them a little bit of downtime.

“Now we’re going to work until we get back to the training ground, whenever that will be. The players understand it’s about kinetics, the movement of the body, stay in good physical shape and then we can start to get more and more individualised.

“Granty’s got a wrist injury and David and Sergio have got a slightly different aspect which are their skills and weaknesses, and these plans will develop and get more bespoke and lasered in to what they need.”

Of course, goalkeeping is a specialist profession and it’s not easy for De Gea, Romero and Grant to work on their specific skills at home.

Each keeper is, therefore, being encouraged to come up with their own drills – not just to ensure reflexes are sharp, but also as a way to alleviate the tedium of lockdown.

“[The technical work is] something the lads draw up themselves really,” added Mawson, who joined the club from Burnley in December. “Obviously the physical programmes Cleggy has spoken about there, a couple of times a week we get together and go through them as a unit.

“But the technical aspect hasn’t really been hammered home by us as coaches. It’s an opportunity for them to maybe kill a bit of time, keep their eye in.

“[There’s] not a lot of equipment in their homes, but it’s really their ownership and them being as creative and simplistic with their ideas that they feel they want to work on and to keep them ticking over and keep their eye in, really.”

UTD PODCAST: JESSE AND SCOTT ON POGBA AND RONALDO

Manchester United duo Jesse Lingard and Scott McTominay have been speaking about the influence of two World Cup and European Championship winners in the latest, must-listen episode of UTD Podcast.

The discussion was recorded this month with the team-mates talking to presenters Helen Evans, Sam Homewood and David May from their respective homes, as they took a break from training individually during lockdown.

In McTominay's case, he cited Cristiano Ronaldo, the former Reds winger and captain of Portugal's Euro 2016 winners, as a role model for his mental and physical strength.

“You look at [Cristiano] Ronaldo and guys like him, and their mentality is the top of the top,” said Scott.

“You don’t get any better than that. I look up to somebody like him, for the physique he’s got and the way that he applies himself. I have just seen a picture of him, two days ago, reading and revising different things that he’s trying to learn in his life off the pitch. People are just far too comfortable too quickly in their life.”

As for Lingard, he opened up on the impact Paul Pogba has on the players around him, something he first witnessed when they were team-mates in United's FA Youth Cup-winning side of 2011.

“I have been with him since the Under-18s and you could see the talent that he possessed at such a young age,“ Jesse recalled on UTD Podcast.

”Even then he was big, he was strong and when he was on the ball, although he sometimes made mistakes, you could tell the talent that he possessed. Week in, week out, in training and in games, there were things that he brought to the team, like the confidence.

“Even off the pitch, it gave everyone confidence and he’s carried that on now. Obviously he’s won the World Cup as well so that’s a cherry on top.”

The new episode of UTD Podcast, starring Jesse Lingard and Scott McTominay, will be available via your usual podcast provider from Monday evening. To find previous editions, including Paul Pogba's, visit www.manutd.com/podcast.

Sir Bobby voted United's greatest Englishman

Manchester United supporters have voted Sir Bobby Charlton as the club's greatest-ever English player.

The World Cup winner amassed an impressive 35 per cent of the vote to beat Wayne Rooney into second place, with Paul Scholes third.

David Beckham, Duncan Edwards, Bryan Robson, Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville also featured on our shortlist to mark St George's Day.

Sir Bobby's career was simply extraordinary. After breaking into the Busby Babes' team as a youngster, he survived the Munich Air Disaster and went on to score twice in the final when United won the European Cup for the first time in 1968.

An attacking midfielder with a ferocious shot, he scored 249 times in 758 appearances for the club. Both figures were long-standing records until surpassed by Rooney and Ryan Giggs respectively.

Rooney also overtook the 1966 Ballon d'Or winner's England record tally of 49 goals, which came from 106 caps.

The outcome of the poll shows the great esteem in which the 82-year-old is rightly still held. Indeed, his popularity has always stretched across the globe.

Fans on Facebook offered their praise for the United icon, with Craig Bramwell posting: “Charlton, hands down. Becks was my all-time favourite player but Charlton was the greatest.”

Gordon Adams agreed, saying: “[Been a] United fan since 1957 so, had Munich not have happened, Duncan Edwards would have my vote. However, it did happen and so it is Sir Bobby, hands down, for all that he has achieved, on and off the pitch, and for the world's greatest club.”

Taiwo Wizzy Ayodeji made a persuasive argument, explaining: “Bobby Charlton won the Ballon d'Or, World Cup and European Cup. These feats alone made him stand out compared to other English players at United. To me, Sir Bobby is the greatest English player.”

During our MUTV Group Chat, the former Reds also backed the decision to hand Sir Bobby the title of our best English footballer.

“It's a tough one but I'm going with Bobby Charlton,” said Wes Brown. “For what he's done in the past and obviously watching stuff when I was growing up on video. What he did - not just for club but for country as well - means I'll go with Bobby. We've all met him and he's an absolute top man.”

Fellow defender David May said: “What he came through - Munich, then winning the European Cup, winning the World Cup, being a club ambassador. In these times, I think he is the perfect gentleman to get that accolade.”

Danny Webber agreed, commenting: “For personal reasons as well. When I was a kid coming through, the boss introduced me to him and Sir Matt Busby and I remember being in awe of him and thinking 'wow'. For me, Sir Bobby is an absolute legend.”

The only man to choose another option was Ben Thornley, who explained: “I admired Bryan Robson greatly as a kid. The best player I ever played with was Paul Scholes but, in an era where United really, really needed somebody, Robson was a one-man team.”

POLL RESULT

Sir Bobby Charlton - 35%
Wayne Rooney - 26%
Paul Scholes - 14%
David Beckham - 12%
Duncan Edwards - 6%
Bryan Robson - 5%
Rio Ferdinand - 1%
Gary Neville - 1%
Thank you to everybody who voted!

Ranking Old Trafford's 10 greatest European nights

On this day in 1957, Manchester United played at Old Trafford in European competition for the first time.

The opposition that evening, 63 years ago, were European champions and eventual winners Real Madrid and, although the Spaniards raced into a two-goal lead, second-half strikes from Tommy Taylor and Bobby Charlton ensured the shares were spoiled on a thrilling night.

United have served up plenty more unforgettable evenings on home soil down the years. Here’s the rundown of our top 10...

10. UNITED 3 MILAN 2 (CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL, 2006/07)
A magical display from future Ballon d’Or winner Kaka had Sir Alex Ferguson’s side staring at a home defeat in this Champions League semi-final, before a Wayne Rooney double – the second in injury-time – sent Old Trafford rocking.

9. UNITED 3 BARCELONA 3 (CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP STAGE, 1998/99)
An epic group-stage encounter in which the Reds raced into a two-goal lead before being pegged back by the Catalans. David Beckham’s free-kick made it 3-2, but the visitors had the last word from the spot after Nicky Butt was sent off for handball.

8. UNITED 3 OLYMPIACOS 0 (CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUND OF 16, 2013/14)
Trailing by two goals after a listless first-leg display in Piraeus, United overturned a two-goal deficit in a European tie for the first time in 30 years, thanks to David De Gea’s brilliance and Robin van Persie’s hat-trick.

7. UNITED 2 INTERNAZIONALE (CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER-FINAL, 1998/99)
A raucous night in M16 as the tournament favourites were twice undone by the unstoppable combination of David Beckham’s pinpoint crosses and Dwight Yorke’s clinical headers.

6. UNITED 3 JUVENTUS 2 (CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP STAGE, 1996/97)
Having twice been humbled by Marcello Lippi’s Bianconeri the previous season, the Reds’ European maturation was dramatically underlined on a night best remembered for Ryan Giggs’s slaloming clincher.

5. UNITED 4 PORTO 0 (CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER-FINAL, 1996/97)
Old Trafford shook as Alex Ferguson’s Reds ran riot against the tournament dark horses, all but ending the tie inside 90 minutes through David May, Eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs and Andrew Cole.

4. UNITED 1 REAL MADRID 0 (EUROPEAN CUP SEMI-FINAL, 1967/68)
Our heroic second-leg fightback is renowned, but United’s 1968 success was built on a magnificent first-leg performance against Real at Old Trafford, decided by George Best’s belting winner.

3. UNITED 7 ROMA 1 (CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER-FINAL 2006/07)
Another fightback, this time completed in comfort. From 1-2 on aggregate to 5-2 on aggregate by half-time at Old Trafford, this was a night when Sir Alex Ferguson’s Reds warned Europe of what was to come.

2. UNITED 1 BARCELONA (CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL, 2007/08)
Tension in its purest, most agonising form. Paul Scholes’s early thunderbolt proved to be the only goal of the game, while a relentless backing from the home support carried the Reds through to Moscow, where we'd eventually lift our third European Cup.

1. UNITED 3 BARCELONA 0 (EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS' CUP QUARTER-FINAL, 1983/84)
Soundtracked by what is widely cited as the greatest atmosphere Old Trafford has ever heard, Ron Atkinson’s Reds roared back from a two goal first-leg deficit to steamroller a star-studded Barcelona team.

OUR RECORD AT OLD TRAFFORD IN EUROPE
P180 W124 D40 L16

McTominay wows fans with his incredible 5km time

The 5km running challenge has been a topic of conversation at Manchester United this week, after it was revealed the players and staff are competing to see who can record the fastest time.

Daniel James told us that Scott McTominay had set the standard among the squad and our marauding midfielder backed up that claim, days later, by posting his running data on Instagram.

Incredibly, as his followers saw, the Academy graduate covered the 5km distance in 16 minutes and one second, with negative splits as well – which means he somehow got faster as he went along!

HOW MCTOMINAY COMPARES

According to research by The Sun this week, McTominay overran by 30 metres and, without that extra distance, his time would most likely have been an even more impressive 15 minutes and 45 seconds.

To put the United midfielder’s speed into greater context, the top British 5km recorded in 2020 so far is reportedly held by Cambridge & Coleridge runner Marc Scott in a time of 13:08.

Only the top 27 runners this year have managed to beat McTominay's time of 16:01.

The world record is currently held by Ethiopian track star Kenenisa Bekele, with a time of 12:37, so Scott has got some way to go just yet... although we wouldn't write him off!

COMPETITION BETWEEN OUR COACHES

Assistant coach Kieran McKenna appeared on Thursday’s episode of MUTV Group Chat and was happy to report he currently holds the fastest 5km time between the staff. However, as McKenna quickly pointed out, he is facing stiff competition from Reds legend Michael Carrick.

“I’ve got a few years on Ole, so if he’s beating me, I'm in trouble,” joked 33-year-old McKenna. “I know he was pretty sharp as a player!

“I’d have to say, at the moment, I’m top of it out of the coaching staff. Carras has still got a good engine, he’s a 10km man, he can still clock the miles. He’s never been super, super quick but he can still clock up the miles and I think he could still get about the pitch quicker than me if there was a ball on it, that’s for sure.

“My 5km time is not on the level of Scott McTominay at the moment. I’ve just broken the 20-minute mark, so I’m in the sub-20 club. I’ve just got it down to 19-and-a-half, so I’m not bad. But we’ve got a couple of proper, proper runners in that squad, so I won’t be trying to go anywhere near their times or I could do myself a whole load of damage.”

WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER REDS?

Harry Maguire posted an impressive time of 17:46 earlier this week and Jesse Lingard also uploaded his own effort of 18:29.

Of course, those speeds may have been improved since then, so we'll keep our eyes peeled for further updates from the lads.

In the meantime, why don't you try it for yourself?

Exercise provides tons of physical and mental benefits, particularly during the ongoing lockdown, so grab your trainers and hit the roads. Just remember to social distance, Reds.

Woodward addresses fans on coronavirus impact

Ed Woodward has told fans that Manchester United will remain committed to supporting people and communities affected by coronavirus for as long as the pandemic continues.

United’s executive vice-chairman discussed the club’s response to the crisis - and its impact on football - in an address to the quarterly Fans’ Forum on Friday. With the lockdown in place, the meeting was held remotely via conference call for the first time.

Speaking on the call, Woodward said: “I’d like to reinforce that our thoughts are with everyone affected by the pandemic, and especially those who have lost people close to them. Our top priority has been doing what is necessary to help slow the spread of the virus, and that will remain our guiding principle.

“On behalf of everyone at Manchester United, I want to pay tribute to the heroic work being done by the NHS and all key workers in fighting the virus. We are proud to support those efforts, with club medical supplies, protective equipment and food donated to local hospitals, and gift packs to NHS workers.”

Woodward also indicated that United are working on additional initiatives with the NHS: “After discussion with local NHS trusts, there is more support to come from the club in this area.”

Food poverty across Manchester is another growing concern which the fans and the club are working to address. Woodward continued: “We recognise that this is an economic crisis as well as a health crisis and that many vulnerable members of our community will be affected. That’s why we have donated over 30,000 items of food and drink to local charities, and made a £100,000 joint-donation with Manchester City to the Trussell Trust for use by 19 food banks across Greater Manchester.

“I’d like to put on record our appreciation for the role of the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust in helping co-ordinate this latter donation, building on the excellent work that they normally do collecting for food banks on match days.”

Thousands of staff from across the club have been part of the response plan and Woodward said it was a “crucial priority” for the club to support them. He added: “Protecting our people is another crucial priority. That’s why we continued to pay them in full, without recourse to the Government’s current furlough scheme, and made goodwill payments to over 3,000 casual workers to protect their incomes while our operations are disrupted. Of course, everyone is grappling with the economic realities of the pandemic and we are no different, so the longer the crisis continues the greater the impact will be for every club, including ourselves.”

Many of those staff teamed up with club legends, including Bryan Robson, Andy Cole and Gary Pallister, to make welfare calls to over 3,000 elderly and vulnerable supporters.

“We will continue looking for more ways of supporting those in need for as long as the pandemic continues. This is consistent with our values as a club, our strong roots into our community, and the deep relationships we have with our fans,” said Woodward.

“It is also important to acknowledge the part played by our successful business in allowing us to fulfil our social responsibilities. We have always believed that our commercial model gives us greater resilience than most clubs and we are grateful for the enduring support of our commercial partners in helping us achieve that.”

Despite this underlying resilience, Woodward stressed the need for realism about the impact of the pandemic. He cautioned that: “Nobody should be under any illusions about the scale of challenge facing everyone in football and it may not be ‘business as usual’ for any clubs, including ourselves, in the transfer market this summer.

“As ever, the priority is the success of team but we need visibility of the impact across the whole industry, including timings of the transfer window, and the wider financial picture, before we can talk about a return to normality.

“On this basis, I cannot help feeling that speculation around transfers of individual players for hundreds of millions of pounds this summer seems to ignore the realities that face the sport.”

Woodward concluded that Manchester United remains hopeful of completing the current season and committed to continuing a series of measures to improve the matchday experience at Old Trafford.

“Like all of you, we are eager to see the team return to the field as soon as we are advised it is safe to do so, hopefully to complete a season which still held so much promise for us in the Premier League, the Europa League and the FA Cup, when it was suspended.

“We are in constant dialogue with our governing bodies about when and how that will happen and we will continue to engage with this Forum to keep fans consulted.

“And while it may be that games need to be played behind closed doors in the shorter term, we all recognise that football will not be fully back to normal until supporters are once again in attendance.

“As today’s agenda shows, we are pushing ahead with a series of initiatives to enhance the matchday experience at Old Trafford, including the expansion of the dedicated atmosphere section of the Stretford End, the planned trial of rail seating, and the completion of our expanded state-of-the-art facilities for disabled supporters.

“These matters pale in comparison with the immediate priority of fighting coronavirus. But they give us things to look forward to when we are eventually allowed back to Old Trafford to watch football. It will be a very special day when that happens. In the meantime, on behalf of everyone at Manchester United, take care and thank you, as ever, for your unwavering support.”

To read more about the above, please see the minutes of the Fans’ Forum meeting held via conference call on Friday 24 April 2020 -these will be published next week. The minutes of every meeting since February 2016 can be found at www.manutd.com/fansforum.

Williams and Greenwood have 'that mental edge'

Manchester United assistant coach Kieran McKenna believes Brandon Williams and Mason Greenwood's “mental edge” is the key factor behind their rise to first-team success.

As a key member of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's backroom staff – and a former lead coach of the Under-18s – the 33-year-old has had a front-row seat from which to watch the pair's development in recent years.

And McKenna says their mental resilience and composure – even beyond their technical and physical attributes – are the main reasons they've made a seamless transition to top-level football during 2019/20.

“You need to have stand-out attributes physically and you need to have stand-out attributes technically to be able to be in consideration,” began the Northern Irishman, during our latest MUTV Group Chat, hosted by Stewart Gardner. “But that would probably account for most of our Under-23s squad.

“You’re often looking at that mental edge and the characteristics of the players who can handle the step up from a mental point of view, who respond well to pressure, who like playing on the big stage and playing with the big boys and playing in front of crowds.

“Certainly, with the boys who are in and around the first team now, those are the bits that you’re trying to work on, that you’re trying to push, that you’re trying to make sure that they’re really solid on, because, technically and physically, most of them are able to make that step up. Very often, it’s how they handle the mental jump, which a couple of them have done really well this year. That’s probably the bit that determines whether they can break in and hopefully stay in.”

Greenwood has netted 12 goals already in his breakthrough season, despite being just 18 years old. But McKenna says the young forward has not surprised anyone by delivering on the big stage.

“I don’t think anyone who has been around for the last few years would ever doubt that Mason had the capability to step up through the levels and score goals,” he admits.

“He’s played up through the age groups, from when he was a very young boy to obviously later in his Academy ages. He was playing Under-18s at 15, he was playing Under-23s at 16, so he’s used to stepping up to a higher level and we all know he can score goals and that’s what he’s done.

“He’s got other bits of his game that he’s working on, and he needs to work on, and he knows he’s still got a lot of levels he needs to jump to really establish himself as a top player and become a regular over the next few years. But, in terms of Mason going on the pitch and being able to score goals, which is obviously the most important bit of the game, I don’t think anyone has been overly surprised that he has made that jump.”

As for Williams, the coach believes his more unexpected rise should inspire fellow Academy players to believe they are always in with a chance of getting their opportunity.

“There’s a lot of talented boys in the group, just below the first-team group at the moment,” states the former Tottenham Hotspur youth player.

“Obviously, there are some that have broken through quicker than others, but it’s not about being the first to get there. It’s a long race and it’s about who is going to be there at the end, so Brandon has been a big bonus. I don’t think it’s maybe as big a surprise as it has been made out to the people who’ve worked with him.

“He’s a kid who showed it in his first year as a scholar. He came in as an Under-16, he probably wasn’t the first one to get in the doors full-time and wasn’t the first one to get his scholarship and things like that, but he came in the doors the first year as a scholar and really hit the ground running. He had a terrific pre-season and really established himself in that Under-18 group straight away from the first day of pre-season as a scholar.

“He is, again, a kid who has shown he can jump up through the levels, it doesn’t faze him, it tends to boost him a little bit and he’s able to rise to challenges and has a big mental strength around that.

“So, yeah, maybe the impact he had has certainly been a big bonus, but probably not a surprise for those who know what type of kid he is and again, yeah, it should be, and I think it is, a big motivation for the rest of the Under-23s and the Under-18s to know that it’s not just about the ones who are there at the moment.

“The door is open, Ole’s always watching the youth-team games, wanting reports on who is doing well and it’s a big part of the club and certainly those who are beneath have definitely got a chance if they hit the levels.”

MU Foundation continue to support community

Manchester United Foundation is continuing to support the most vulnerable in our society during this time of coronavirus.

With the UK currently on lockdown, the Foundation’s charitable acts have never been more vital, and they have continued to offer assistance to those in the Greater Manchester region who most need it.

This has been achieved through a number of initiatives. For instance, Foundation coaches have been involved in distributing food donations across the region. This includes supporting foodbanks, schools and a sizeable donation to the Manchester Foundation Trust Charity, which supports nine Greater Manchester hospitals.

To date, the Foundation has delivered over 30,000 items of food and drink to Stretford Foodbank, Salford Royal Hospital, Salford Foodbank and a number of other local charitable organisations in Manchester.

Twenty-one Foundation vehicles were used to transport the food and drink, with over 35 volunteer drivers making deliveries. Foundation vehicles also delivered over 450 executive bags to Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust and the NHS Manchester Foundation Trust Charity, as a way to thank all NHS staff.

A number of Foundation coaches are also working in partner primary, secondary and SEN schools - supporting children of key workers and those who are deemed vulnerable.

Over the past four weeks, the Foundation has been in direct communication with 27 of its partner high schools, supporting direct delivery in 13 of those schools. A total of 25 days have been delivered by high school partnership officers and, in total, the Foundation has engaged with over 150 vulnerable and key worker children.

Manchester United have also supported with special messages to some Foundation participants, including students from Stretford High School and The Oldham Academy North and Eccles Sixth Form College, who recently received video calls from first-team players and United legends.

The Foundation are also delivering weekly worksheet activities and video challenges to keep children educated and active while staying at home.

These have been shared through the Foundation and club social media channels and can also be accessed on the Foundation website. The Manchester United Foundation will also be delivering 800 printed worksheets to foodbanks and schools alongside the food donations.

McKenna explains United have plans A, B and C

Assistant coach Kieran McKenna has revealed Manchester United staff are working towards the hope that the COVID-19 lockdown could be eased in May, with a view to returning to training, although plans B and C have also been prepared in case the period of isolation is extended for a second time.

During his appearance on our daily MUTV Group Chat programme, the Northern Irishman explains how the squad is following government guidelines and adhering to protocol while working from home.

McKenna stresses that health is more important than sport at this time and resources must not be taken away from the community when they’re needed most. However, with the discussion of football’s return evolving every day, Kieran says everybody at United is determined to complete this 2019/20 campaign and plans are being put into action to ensure the players will be ready.

Scroll further down to read Kieran’s comments...

Firstly Kieran, in a normal day, how often are you in touch with the staff and players?
“Yeah, pretty much every day in some form or another. Obviously we have got a big staff and a big playing squad, so it's important to keep in touch. Every day, we are in touch with the players. I will contact some and the other staff will contact others. There are regular sessions going on with the fitness coaches, on different online platforms, so we'll all jump into that as well. Coaching-wise, we are having quite a few online conferences as well to discuss different things. There is communication on a daily basis, really. It is maybe not quite as much as when we are living on top of each other for 11 months of the year, we are keeping up plenty of contact.”

We can see what the players are doing on their social media, so does each player have their own personal plan?
“Yeah they all have their own plan, like they would throughout the year anyway in terms of their gym and rehabilitation, and some of their physical aspects as well. On top of that, there is group stuff, so group sections that everyone has to log into. We are actually in a period where we are just coming off them a little bit - they have worked really hard for four weeks of the lockdown so far, so we don't want to flat-line with working hard for too long, over a long period with hard runs and things like that. We are having a little period, at the minute, where they are coming off it a little bit, just doing what they need individually, and then over the next couple of weeks we will ramp it up against with more specific stuff, and more formal work together as a whole group.”

Is it difficult to prepare the players when you just don't know when we need to ramp it up?
“It is not easy. All you can do is take your guess of the guidelines and the lockdown protocol. We have tried to work in two-week blocks, so they've had two weeks of work and then the lockdown was extended. We've adapted to that because that was something we expected anyway. At the moment, we are working towards, touch wood, the lockdown loosening after the next deadline and being able to return to some sort of training. We are working to that schedule at the moment but, if we have to push back again, we have got a plan B and plan C already prepared.”

Everybody is reflecting during these weeks of lockdown, so can that lead to you thinking about new coaching methods and tactical plans?
“Yeah, definitely. I think anybody from all of the clubs would say it is massively valuable. You just don't get time during the season, too often, to take stock of what you're doing yourself, because you have got a game every three or four days. We have a little bit of time at the moment to watch back some of our games, some of our training, to think forward to what might be possible in the future for ourselves. We are hopefully going to have a full squad of players to work with, whenever we come back, in terms of injured boys coming back. So you are thinking about how we can re-integrate them, what the squad might look like with them boys back in and how we might look on the pitch.”

On that point, we'll hopefully have Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba available again, in particular. We could look incredibly strong...
“Yeah, it would be nice. Obviously, those are two massively talented players who you are talking about and we have not really had them all season. Luke [Shaw] and Anthony [Martial] were picking up injuries in the first half of the season, with Scott [McTominay] picking up injuries, all missing most of the season, and obviously Marcus being a big miss as well, so we haven't really had a full complement to pick from all season. The rest of the squad deserves credit and Ole for how he has managed that, and for managing to keep the group together. If we can get to a point where we get everybody back in, then it's certainly good competition for places in some positions, and also a chance to rotate, which we haven't always had the possibility to do, to give people a breather and manage the squad that way.”

What is your personal stance on the finishing of this present season?
“To be honest, we are in a similar position to the general public where everyone is just waiting for the government protocols, and for the health workers to assess the situation and give us the all clear. From a personal point of view, and from speaking to the other staff and players, everyone is keen to play and everyone wants to finish the competitions. For us, we are still in a couple of cup competitions with a good shout, and we are still fighting for things in the league as well, so we would like to get it played and that is what everyone is hoping for. But, again, everybody is in the same boat - health is the most important thing, we can't take big risks, we can't take away resources from other parts of the community that need it more. We'd like to get it played, we have to be ready, but we also know that football is massively important,, but it is not the most important thing in the country, or the world, at this time. We have to take a backseat and be ready.”

Just looking at the games we have left, it will get to a point where the season is going to roll into when next season should start. Is there any talk with the Premier League or the FA to cancel the FA Cup or League Cup next season?
“I think everyone is probably aware that the league has to take precedence in terms of if there was a limited timescale. That is something that has been discussed. Obviously the FA Cup is important for the country and important for us as a club as well. The schedule is looking tight towards the end of the season. It seems the European competitions are really keen to start in August as well. So that probably tightens the schedule a little bit. There is probably a feeling that everybody would like to get next season played in full and up and running at a reasonable time, where we could look forward to a full season of football next year. There are a lot of things to consider and it is not going to be an easy job for the people who put it together. I am sure, whichever way it comes out in the wash, it will maybe advantage or disadvantage certain clubs, or something people will be more happy than others. I think everyone has to be prepared to make sacrifices and think about the greater good, of the community first of all, and football after that.”

When the lads come back, would it be a pre-season or just 10 days when you try to get back up to speed?
“There are certain elements that you have to look at as an off-season, really, because of the amount of time the boys have been off. Coming back from an off-season of anything from three to eight weeks, the players will have a six, seven, eight run-in. But, at the moment, they are maintaining a higher level of fitness and certainly training at a higher level than an off-season, so we don't there to be too much of a drop-off in terms of fitness and general conditioning. At the moment, we are working off the premise that we'll have a short window of training, maybe three weeks or so, before we return. We're trying to get the boys to a point where they are coming back into those three weeks, fit enough and can go straight back into 11 versus 11, so we can use that time for tactical work and match fitness. We know the boys are doing a lot of individual work at the moment that should account for their base level of fitness being in a good state when they come back.”

We’ve said every time on this programme that football really doesn’t matter in the current situation, but it must have been frustrating to end when we did, when everything had seemed to have clicked, scoring goals, not conceding any, 11 unbeaten?
“Yeah it is, in a way. We were on a good run and the group was confident. When it’s like that you want the games to keep coming thick and fast, which they were at that time. Yeah, it is frustrating in a way, but, again, I said it before we feel as a staff and I think, even the players within the club, feel like a run of good form was coming. Obviously, the winter break helped and the training that we got out in Marbella, plus also Bruno [Fernandes] and Odion [Ighalo] coming in, giving the group a big boost, but we also feel like there was some good work going on before that with the players that were in the squad. There was a good structure, a good set-up, a good ethic in the group for those boys to drop into. Our hope is that it wasn’t a one-off run of good form that comes to an end and we won’t be able to match again. We’re hoping that we’re putting the right things in place, getting the right people in the door and having the right structures and a good consistent set-up will enable us to be more consistent in the future, because we know that’s what we need to do and where we need to get to. We hope to come out of the break in a stronger way, continue some of the things that have been going on, that we feel have contributed to that run of good form and we’ll be hopeful that we can pick it up again whenever we get going.”

It can’t be easy joining a new club in January, but goodness me what an impact those guys have had in such a short space of time?
“Yeah they did, and look, they’ve had massive credit and they deserve massive credit, so I think they’ve both had a big impact in their own way. Obviously Bruno’s been a big positive. The fans have taken to him, the players have taken to him and the staff as well. He’s a great professional, a good person and a great person to have around. Odion has come in and, you know, it’s been well publicised, his passion and love for the club and that’s endeared him to a lot of people straight off the bat, but also he’s a proven goalscorer and he gives something a little bit different and adds good experience to our forward line. They’ve both had a big impact individually, but, like I said, I think the other boys deserve credit as well for how they’ve settled in. I think, traditionally, it’s very hard for boys to come into a club and hit the ground running, so I don’t think it’s a case that those two have been able to do it by themselves. I think it’s testament to the group, to the spirit, to the work that’s gone on with the staff behind the scenes as well to have a good structure and good set-up in place that if they bring the right players in, like those two, it helps them to hit the ground running and show their best form pretty quickly. So it’s been a big boost, so big credit to them, but I think big credit to the rest of the lads as well.”

WAN-BISSAKA'S DIARY: I'M INSPIRED BY MICHAEL JORDAN

byAaron Wan-BissakaWednesday 22 April 2020 09:14Share With twitter Share With facebook
Hi everybody, I hope you’re all staying safe and continuing to follow the lockdown instructions. This will be my last weekly column before handing over to Luke Shaw, who will take it for the next few weeks.

Luke’s a really good guy who was a big help to me when I first joined United, and he’s also one of the jokers in the squad. Given that he’s also recently become a dad, I reckon he’ll be a having a very different lockdown experience to me, so I’m sure he’ll enjoy telling you all about that.

It’s been the same routine for me again in the last week, but yesterday I started watching The Last Dance, a big documentary about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.

I’m one episode in and already it’s so inspirational. You see this absolute legend of basketball, how he started, what he went through, what he had to do to get to the top of his sport, and you can’t help but be motivated.

During hard times, especially like we’re in now, it just makes you think about everything.

Having so much time on my hands at the moment means I’ve been able to do a lot of reflecting, and it’s crazy to look at how much things have changed for me in the space of the last year.

As a kid, you want to reach the biggest clubs, but at times I didn’t think I was going to be able to do it. It looked impossible. When I think back to those times in my life, then look around at how things are now and who I play for, it really blows my mind.

I think about the future too, and there’s still so much more to come. That’s one thing you quickly learn at United: it never stops. This place never stands still and I can’t wait to get back to the training ground, see the lads and the staff again and really knuckle down.

Since I came to United, the coaching staff have been great. They all really know their stuff and they can make a difference to your game. Even a fraction of a percent improvement is worth getting, and I’m really excited about the chance to work on my game in any area I can.

The manager is a big part of that process too. Since day one at United, I’ve seen that Ole’s a manager who knows what he wants. You can see his intentions for the team. He wants every single player to improve and he’s given us all a steer on what we need to improve. That’s what you need, I think; a manager who will push you.

Personally, he’s encouraged me to go forward with confidence and express myself, and prior to the recent lockdown I think my attacking game was definitely improving. As I said, there’s a lot more to come from me, from us and I can’t wait to get back to it.

Until then, everyone stay safe and look after each other.

Aaron.

FAN QUESTIONS

What was your reaction when you first heard about United’s interest in you? [via @UTDTalha]
At the time I could have let it get to me, but I was totally focused on giving Crystal Palace my best. I couldn’t let it distract me. Obviously it made me think that my hard work and performances were getting attention, which was a really good sign, and that kept me going and I finished that season as Palace’s Player of the Year.

What’s it like knowing you play in front of the best keeper in the world? [via @utdsaeed]
You feel safe. You know he’s got your back and you’ve got to have his back. You’re part of that defensive unit and it feels great. I’ve played against United before with Palace and I remember some of the saves he’s made in those games. Outside United he’s viewed as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, definitely, and it’s so hard to get the ball past him. He’s so confident. You should see him in training, particularly in the small-sided games.

Who is your all-time favourite defender to watch? [via @RealistYahz]
Dani Alves, I think. I just liked the way he expressed himself throughout the whole game. He played in that amazing Barcelona team and he was a big part of the success they had.

Do you have any hobbies or play any instruments? [via @CamMurUTD]
I really like gaming, but no instruments… well, I haven’t played one in years. I played the piano at high school. I’m alright, quite basic. It’s difficult to start off playing, tough to learn. I think Axel plays it too, actually.

How do you feel when watching highlights of your performances? [via @a_y_jesu]
Right now, it makes me miss the game. That’s the negative side of it, I guess. It makes me miss football a lot. But generally I do enjoy it, it’s really useful. It shows me how I’ve improved from last year, what I’ve done differently and what I can do better. I enjoy watching myself back, watching the team play, because you can see the improvements we’re making.

HOW UNITED SIGNED VAN NISTELROOY AND VAN PERSIE

Sir Alex Ferguson made some spectacular signings during his managerial career but two of his best captures were deadly Dutch strikers Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robin van Persie.

Both deals were fraught with difficulty, for different reasons. Both would provide a regular output of goals and earn a place in the hearts of all Manchester United fans forever.

United were the dominant force in English football, a year after the Treble success, when pursuing van Nistelrooy, PSV Eindhoven’s main marksman. Chelsea had been strongly linked with the promising Netherlands international but Ferguson initially won the chase for his signature.

The hitch, however, was a major one. As journalists waited for the new boy’s unveiling, the chair behind the desk famously remained empty as the club’s physios identified a knee problem during the medical.

Van Nistelrooy returned to Eindhoven with Euro 2000 on the horizon but the cruciate ligament in his knee gave way in a training session, with the player’s howls of agony caught on video camera. Sir Alex remained true to his word, kept in regular contact with his main target, and the deal was done a year later than planned – for a British record fee.

“It was a big disappointment that the move didn't go through,” admitted the striker, at the time. “But now, after a hard time fighting to come back, I've made it and it's fantastic. This move is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I never stopped believing it would happen.”

Ferguson was simply convinced his patience would pay off. “It was a difficult injury but, these days, not career-threatening,” he explained. “We had to wait until he started playing again and, the minute he started playing, I was going to progress with it. I think he will develop into something we haven't had. When you see someone of emerging potential, what you are doing really is putting something in the bank. You can't ignore the sort of potential Ruud has, no matter how many strikers you have.”

Van Nistelrooy made up for lost time, scoring on his competitive debut against Liverpool in the Community Shield, and never looked back. He was a brilliant goalscorer and, naturally, the signing of van Persie in 2012 sparked comparisons with his fellow countryman.

Robin was different, a proven Premier League predator, who had matured into one of the division’s top players at Arsenal. He was coming up for 29 and the problem was the competition for his signature. Manchester City’s fans were so convinced he would follow Gael Clichy, Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor and Samir Nasri in trading the Emirates for the Etihad that they chanted his name during a game between the clubs.

As van Persie rejected attempts to extend his contract with the Gunners, it left the Londoners fearing losing their talisman for nothing in the following summer. Juventus showed real interest and hoped they would be in a better position to do business with Arsene Wenger’s side. It took the personal touch from Ferguson to get the deal done.
”It was a difficult one,” Sir Alex told Inside United, the official club magazine, at the time. “Understandably, Arsene didn't want to sell to Manchester United. If you look at the last 25 years, apart from when I first came down, since the day Arsenal won the league in 1989, right up to today, we've been really big rivals to each other - whether it's been George Graham or Arsene Wenger. It wouldn't be easy for Wenger to accept the player wanted to come to us.

“It took a bit of time but the player wanted to come. I think that was the key to it all and that opened the door for us. He told the other clubs he didn't want to play for them, he wanted to play for Manchester United. So, in that sense, it made it a little bit easier for us in terms of the negotiations but Arsene was still wanting top dollar and he fought hard to get the price he got, which I think was a good price for them.

”It was the first time I've had to speak to a manager for a long while,“ added the boss. ”When I first came down, the old way of doing things was I'd phone the manager to negotiate and the two chairmen or secretaries would get together to finalise it. Those days are gone now. I suppose with the advent of agents' involvement in deals, I'll quite happily sit out of it because I can't be bothered with it. Our chief executive David Gill does all that now, you know, but in this situation I think the phone call to Arsene helped.”

Van Persie put pen to paper and spoke of the ‘little boy’ inside him screaming to join United and made clear the time was right to start winning personal honours, without openly ever criticising his former club. “I am looking forward to following in the footsteps of so many great strikers,” he said. “Bringing my experience and playing my part to help the team compete for the biggest trophies in the game.”

It proved to be just the tonic after losing out to City for the title in the dying seconds of the previous campaign. “Yes, there was a general uplift in terms of the mood of the place,” agreed the boss. “The players were saying it's brilliant. At the end of the day, if you've got better players than the rest, you're going to get at least better results than the rest. As I say, if we can integrate that really top player into the framework of the team and the work ehthic of the team, we should be okay.” He was right. Van Persie was the main man as the Reds won our 20th title in the manager’s final season in charge.

Two brilliant strikers.

Two outstanding pieces of transfer business by Sir Alex and United.