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Daily Manchester United - 149 - Wildcard Wednesday
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Kieran gets wild on a Wednesday and takes a brief look back at previous European semi-final fixtures!
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Transcript
Manchester United's European Adventures
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everybody and welcome back to the Daily Manchester United. It's Kieran here and a little bit of a wildcard Wednesday for you. And I sort of thought, well, what could we give our lovely viewers and listeners, what could we treat them to for a wildcard Wednesday for what has been a just completely wild and up and down and rollercoaster season?
00:00:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Should we go back to the past again? Should we relive the greater times? We do that all the time here because it's been such a woeful season. So I thought I'd just do that again and have a look back at some of our previous semi-final excursions, both in the Europa League and in the Champions League.
00:00:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And of course, the better things start and happen years and years ago. I'm afraid to say that is the case and will be the case for probably quite some time. Yes, we're talking about the 20, have to look at it here, season. We're going the way back to season but going all the way back to when we faced Schalke in the semi-finals of the Champions League. And the first leg, well, it was a a double, really. Schalke nil, Manchester United 2, Giggs and Rooney with a quick-fire double to send us, well, with a good side, with a good lead in the in in that stage. And, well, it's kind of...
00:01:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's kind of for hard to look past ah some great names that were that were previous there in that first leg. I mean, Manuel Neuer still playing for Schalke in the other goal. Joel Matip playing for Schalke at this stage. Papadopoulos in the midfield. Jarry Farfan on the wing.
00:01:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Edu up top. And then you also had, well... Manchester United players. Let's reminisce, shall we? ah Van der Sar in goal. Vidic, Ferdinand as your centre-backs. You have Everett and Fabio as your full-backs. Giggs and Carrick, weirdly in that weird midfield.
00:02:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Park Ji-sung and Antonio Valencia on the wings and then Rudy and Hernandez up top. And that sort of 4-4-2 formation. four four two formation that Sir Alex Ferguson got to really get a hold of. And Ralf Rangnick was on the other side in the Schalke bench, or I should say the bench, the Schalke dugout. That's the word I was looking for, the Schalke dugout.
00:02:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Second leg was much more convincing, though. Niall will be delighted that Darren Gibson scored on this night as well.
Mourinho's Era and Celta Vigo Clash
00:02:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Manchester United 4, Schalke 1, United going through to the final to take on what I believe was Barcelona and...
00:02:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, we don't talk about that match. It's fine. Don't worry about it. ah But Antonio Valencia also on the goal score sheet. Anderson with a double. And again, Berbatov starting up front. that was ah That was a match where we went 4-3-3, a bit more attacking, if you like, a bit more aggressive in front of Old Trafford.
00:02:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah, Smalling and Evans in the centre of midfield, centre of defence. John O'Shea being played as a full-back with Raphael. And then you had Gibson, Scholes and Anderson as a midfield trio with Valencia and Nani on the wings and Berbatov up front with Rooney being on, I believe, the bench at this one and wasn't even wasn't even picked on the bench.
00:03:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
There might have been a reason for that and the reason eludes me because it was 12, 13 years ago. Owen was still playing for Manchester United. He's on the bench and actually came on in the 77th minute for Berbatov and that qualified us for the final to go to Wembley and well, you know...
00:03:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
I kind of think, wow, a Champions League final at Wembley. It was written in the stars. It wasn't written in the stars. It was Barcelona's year that year. But never mind. It is what it is. ah Everyone gets messied. Everyone gets won. It's fine.
00:03:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Do I feel sad about not seeing this team right now? No. ah To be honest with you, it was a great time. But it's also one that has a little bit of, well,
Recent Semi-final Struggles
00:03:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
not fond memories, if you like. um you know Yes, we won that semi-final, but then we went on to lose against Barcelona.
00:04:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And you know a success rate right now, a hit rate is ah semi-final, no. Semifinal, yes. Final, no. That's always good. i mean, even the bench for the second leg. Yeah, Thomas Kuziak on the bench with Evra, Owen, Giggs, Hernandez, Vidic and Fletcher all on the bench.
00:04:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, it was great. It was it was a great side. i you know I find myself looking back at you know all of all of this and and all of these amazing times, as we so often do, as we so often seem to do ah here at the Daily Manchester United. It just happens. It happens every time. And Whenever we get a bad result, I mean, the Bournemouth game is... I mean, Amram, he himself said, we should have won that match.
00:04:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
So there you go. But, you know, looking at the form we're in right now, it's not great. in terms of being in Europe seems to have saved us a little bit. We seem to be doing a little bit better in Europe.
Heartbreak in the Europa League Final
00:05:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, but it, it's no mean it's by no means is, is that a good thing? You know, we're we're struggling, we're struggling with goals. Hoyland getting on the score sheet was great.
00:05:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, and it's just, it, it just is, it it just is tough to watch. Very, very tough to watch. Um, I also wanted to talk about ah you know the semi-final of the Europa League back in 2016-17. I mean, remember that?
00:05:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hey, as in Celta Vigo, everybody remember that? Yes? No? Maybe? I don't know. Can we repeat the question? um Yeah, it it was a it was a strange game, that one. Fellaini getting us ah in front 17 minutes in.
00:05:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then a goal that comes from Roncalia to equalise. And then we have Rashford there trying to get himself with with the chance. Couldn't quite get it.
00:05:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But then in the 88th minute, um but they do score actually in the 85th minute. But actually, we get two sending-offs by Enro Calia, get themselves both sent off in the 88th minute.
00:06:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
But to talk about it, you had Sergio Romero in goal, Valencia, and who was you know a winger in that in that earlier you know Champions League side. Now playing as of as a wing-back, a full-back, along with Damian on that wing-back. Fellaini, Pogba and Herrera in the midfield three with Mkhitaryan, Lingard and Rashford up top.
00:06:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
um John Guadetti as well for Celta Vigo at that time. Yeah, both centre-backs um on either side getting sent off, which was, yeah, a weird one. But there you go. you know We got ourselves through that second leg.
00:06:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
um A 1-0 win in front of Celta Vigo's fans was enough to see us over the line and were able to do something with that. um And then in that semi-final, we we went on to win it in the finals with Jose Mourinho. So it just goes to show you, it really does go to show you that...
00:07:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, semi-finals could, could not be be a difference maker. I don't know. um But yeah, coming up against Ajax, winning the title, winning the Europa League for the first ever time was great.
00:07:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
um You know, it was a nice trophy to win and it and it showed everyone that United could be competitive in Europe, but we've we've been in and out of the Champions League for a long time now. We've I hate to say it, we have become a little bit of an established Europa League team.
00:07:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But it is what it is. ah It really is what it is. you remember Odia Nigano? On loan at Manchester United and and able to just get us through?
00:07:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Yeah, that was not quite the case. ah We had the Europa League semifinals against Sevilla. And yeah, it wasn't it wasn't great.
00:07:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
It wasn't great, was it? Igarlo was great for us, but not not the match. Not the match, I'm afraid. Yet we went on to lose that one in the semifinal. Yeah, not ah not a great day. We scored early through Fernandes' penalty, but then Suso and Luc de Jong managed to score.
00:08:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
and get themselves ahead on the day and, well, sort of gave us a picture of what was to come, really. um and and that And that was that. i I don't know. it It just wasn't a good day.
00:08:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
It wasn't a good day at all because then the return leg when we went to Sevilla, 3-0 loss. 3-0 loss. um Yeah, that's, you know, 2023 when we went to... yeah I'm just sort of all over the place, just a bit
De Gea's Legacy and Squad Changes
00:08:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
like United. But yeah, you look at 2023, 2022, 2023 when we get knocked by I mean, that's only a couple of years ago, but even so, you had De Gea in goal.
00:08:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Dallo. i mean, Dallo, you could say, and Lindelof still a part of the side. Sabitzer we had on loan. Remember when we had him on loan? James Sancho, obviously now on loan at Chelsea, probably going to come back. We had still had Fred, Valtveghors.
00:09:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
But to be honest with you, yeah, we again, not a good night at all. We just fell apart. We just didn't look like we wanted to be there. And it sort of set a tone for the next three years.
00:09:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
was Not even three years, two years. Set the tone for two years where no one could be bothered. But hey-ho, it is what it is. um we We can see now that there is some fight in the team, in Europe at the very least.
00:09:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
I hope, anyway. um hey sir Europe's a weird one. But whilst I just sort of take a breather and acknowledge that hay fever's kicking my butt, ah we'll take a short break. And when I come back, more blathering and hopefully ranting about Europe.
00:09:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know. Come back with me and see what I find.
00:10:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but it's so good. It needed to play twice. Thank you, Bionic. um How about a recall as well? I know we don't want to, but the 2020-2021 Europa League final.
00:11:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Probably one of the most bizarre finals I think I've ever watched. A game that ended 1-1, and it was just, yeah, it was a part of that time where Stadia was starting to open up and and starting to give us...
00:11:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah fans in the stadium again after, well, I say after the pandemic, but it was right in the peak of the pandemic. So we only had about 9,000 people watching the match, 9,500 people. in Gdansk that night. But still, we had ah chance and so to beat Villarreal. And Girard scores first for Villarreal. Cavani equalises in the second half. it goes to penalties and both keepers have to take a penalty. It goes that far deep into the into into the door to the penalty shootout that we just get...
00:12:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
keepers taking penalties. I'm a fan of keepers taking penalties as long as my keeper scores it and De Gea didn't. And it was very sad. ah Very, very sad. Because i I don't think we played that badly on the night. I think there was a lot of heart, a lot of passion that night.
00:12:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And I think as well... And the the team we had was actually okay. You know, we had Cavani up top. Amazing. ah We had the likes of Fernandes and Rashford, Pogba, McTominay, who's, you know, McTominay now is helping Napoli to top the table as it stands, ah believe as it stands.
00:12:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
De Gea in goal. And it sort of came to that love-hate relationship, I felt, with David De Gea. Yes, I was always a fan of St. David. I always will be. But I think at that time, even we could all see that,
00:12:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was making high profile mistakes. And whilst he was making some saves, yes, ah those high profile mistakes were costing us. And you could say as well, Inanna's making high profile mistakes. Yes, correct.
00:12:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
I won't contest with you on that. What I will contest with you is the rose tinted glass that are suddenly coming out for David De Gea. No, no, no, no. There's a reason Gea's contract didn't get renewed.
00:13:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's because he wasn't you know playing as he was as he was justifying the wages he was asking for. um And I think that's a fair decision. ah Do I miss De Gea? No. Am I glad he's doing well in Italy? Yes, I am.
00:13:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
43 is a weird number though, David. Go for the number one.
Closing Remarks and Social Media Engagement
00:13:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
You've earned it. um But I just think you know it's easy to have rose-tinted glasses. It's easy to look back at this squad and say, ah I wish we were there again.
00:13:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
But you know this was a team... We had Dean Henderson. He's now gone. Alex Tellez... Yeah, I never really know what to make of Alex Tez. Juan Mata, who I argue was one of Manchester United's best signings in the to get him away from Chelsea. Amazing.
00:13:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ahmad was even on the bench. Not used, but he was on the bench. Nemanja Matic, outspoken Nemanja Matic. The war of the words. Donny van der Beek. Ah, we did Donny van der Beek dirty, didn't we? We really did. i i feel sorry for him all the time.
00:14:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
What a player he could have been and should have been, and we absolutely wasted him. Dan James. Very, very quick. Used to celebrate consolation goals, like they were the goal that was going to win the World Cup. But let him be.
00:14:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
um He's done well with Leeds in previous seasons as well. So he's he's a decent player. But I just don't think, apart from pace, he um he wasn't really as as dangerous as we all thought. But every single penalty in that in that final was scored, apart from David de Gea's.
00:14:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Every single penalty. How does that even happen? How does that work? um And yeah, i it is what it is. Villarreal willing that night. It it happens. It happens.
00:14:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would hope when it comes to this semi-final against Bilbao or Atletic Club, in Bilbao. I'm hoping we put up a fight. um Obviously, we'll have a preview episode tomorrow, which will be very, very nice for you.
00:15:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
This was more of a wild cast wild cut wild card. Get that right, Kieran. A wild card Wednesday scattergun approach at previous semifinals. A hand for hand pick of semifinals in the past and and seeing how well we do.
00:15:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Recent history shows that yeah we sometimes we make it to the final. at One time, we've we've even gone and won it um in in sort of the last, would you say, tear of 13 years.
00:15:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah, it's it's it's interesting. I mean, we've only ever won the Europa League once. It would be nice to win it again. And this feels like our best chance. and yeah Cut to the final now being...
00:15:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Athletic Club and Bodo Glimt. And you know what? I'd be there to see it too. No matter what happens, I'll be there. I will be there for that. i've always I've always said the Europa League's a much more fun tournament to watch.
00:15:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
I didn't. I made it up on the spot. Anyway, a bit of a shorter episode because I'm rabbiting on again. We all love that. Hopefully, we have a good night in Bilbao.
00:16:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
I hope. We'll see. a Could do with a boost this season. Anyway, if you liked that somehow and you want to hear more, make sure you do subscribe to the podcast. If you follow us on Spotify or on Apple, ah you can also get please do give us a rating as well, preferably five star, but don't let me influence your vote.
00:16:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can also watch our episodes on YouTube now. It's the daily Manchester, ah GSPN daily Manchester United podcast. You can watch all of our episodes there and it's the title so long. So you don't forget it.
00:16:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's memorable that way. You can also follow us on all the social media. We are at GSPN man United on X and Twitter. We're on Instagram. We're on TikTok and we're on Facebook. So make sure you go and follow us, start a conversation with us. We'll most likely come back with some, I don't know, some facts, some facts, some fiction, whatever you want, really.
00:16:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
In the meantime, have a great rest of your Wednesday. I'll talk to you soon. Take care of yourselves and see you soon.