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What If… Nani Wasn’t Sent Off in that Game? You Know The One…
21 Plays8 days ago
Kieran and Cormac use the patented Daily Manchester United time machine to take a look back at what could have happened if Nani was never sent off against Real Madrid in the Round of 16 of the 2012/13 season. How far do you think we have gone? Find us and join the conversation on our socials:
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Transcript
Introduction and Recent Games
00:00:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello everyone and welcome back to the Daily Manchester United. You join us here as, once again, we're very good at this, we delve back to the past. Even though the game on Sunday was actually pretty good and we actually got three points, we still like to take a trip back to the past and see of of better days, especially the days under Sir Alex Ferguson. My name is Kieran, I'm delighted to be joined by Cormac Dooley on today's episode. Cormac, welcome to you.
00:00:38
Cormac
yeah Thanks for having me, Ciarán. In a good mood, very good mood after the win on a Sunday. so What a performance from the lads. and ah Hopefully, we'll kick on now from that.
00:00:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Joint top assist Harry Maguire is getting the winner. I
Impact of Harry Maguire and Premier League Stats
00:00:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
mean, you can't ask for more. I should clarify, joint top assist for Manchester United with one. That's according to the official Premier League website. Mad stat. Love it.
00:01:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Right. We're getting into our time machine today. Of course we are. We're Manchester United fans in the current day, 2025.
Nani's Red Card in 2012-2013 Champions League
00:01:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
We like going back to the past. And we're taking you back to 2012 and 2013, more specifically the Champions League.
00:01:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And those of a, well, very good memory or just a fantastic brain will realise probably where this ship is steering to. On today's episode, we're going be discussing what if Nanny was never sent off?
00:01:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
A topic which, I mean, at the time caused a huge amount of debate, apart from ah Roy Keane, who said it was a fair decision. A lot of people like ah like former referee Dermot Gallagher back in 2013 were saying it was a harsh decision.
00:01:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
So let's take a look, Cormac, and see what could have happened and what games we could have had.
Speculation on Wins Against Galatasaray and Dortmund
00:01:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Could we have got to the final and won it?
00:01:54
Cormac
Yeah, I mean, we were looking through the tree there before we started the episode and I mean, yeah, we want to if we had beaten Madrid, we would have went on to play Galatasaray, who we had in the group, beat them 1-0 at home but lost 1-0 away. So I still think we'd put we'd pull through over the two legs.
00:02:11
Cormac
um And then I believe we'd have Dortmund in the semi-finals. zo Dortmund lost to Bayern in that final, but Dortmund were a great team as well. um You know, you had Lewandowski in fine form, the likes of Reus, Mario Gürze.
00:02:26
Cormac
So they had a great team as well. But, you know, we were Premier League champions that year. You could argue Dortmund might by prove a tough test, but I think we'd pull through that. And then, I mean, yeah, the final against Bayern, that's where it gets really, really tough because that team was phenomenal.
00:02:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's that's the sort of outline of of what was ah in that in that stage, how the Champions League would have looked. Let's take you to the group stage because you've already mentioned, Kourmet, a case of, you know, we had a win against Galatasaray at home, a loss to them away in Turkey and I'd always maintain any away day in Turkey.
00:03:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's probably one of the toughest fixtures out there. the the hostile crowds really can make it difficult to play with confidence. So you do see Turkish teams getting very good results against some of the bigger
Performance Analysis and Lineup Discussion
00:03:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
clubs. So not surprising at all. Perhaps what was most surprising was Cluj getting a result at Old Trafford, 5th of December. They actually won 1-0, you know, in that game, which, you know,
00:03:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
kind of you know put the hold on there of actually going through. Luis Alberto got the goal for Cluj there. So, yeah, it was ah it was a tricky one. But, I mean, you look at the United squad back then. and It was definitely a rotated side that came up against Cluj. You still had De Gea in goal, but this is 2012-13 De Gea. This is not, you know, the peak De Gea.
00:03:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
You had Phil Jones at right back. You had Wusson and Smalling in the centre-back partners. Alex Butner at left back. You then had Nick Powell, Tom Cleverley and Ryan Giggs in the midfield. Welbeck, Rooney and Hernandez up top. It's kind of a quite a rotated side for that game. But I suppose that makes sense because, well, probably we were thinking, oh, it's Cluj. We'll be fine.
00:04:04
Cormac
Yeah, no, it sounds like something I do on Football Manager just to give the young guys some game time or something. But yeah, you know, hearing the likes of Scott Wooten starting there in the Champions League game, it's clear that Fergie probably thought, you know, Cluj were a walkover. And even with that squad, he'd get a result. There still were, you know, experienced players. You mentioned Giggs, Rooney, you know, still had quality Chicharito up there.
00:04:28
Cormac
um but yeah it was a very um rotated squad and you know obviously backfired because they ended up losing and luckily it didn't cost united anything um what what uh game week was that actually but
00:04:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it was game week five, i want to say.
Group Stage Challenges and Comparisons
00:04:44
Cormac
okay so maybe they might have already been kind of through um
00:04:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that they finished third in the end. So they at that point in history, you drop into the Europa League, you finish third in your in your group. And they they went down due to results, I think, against Galatasaray. Because although they had the better goal difference, they didn't actually make it through.
00:05:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
And just looking at the ah the results they had against Galatasaray, they had a 1-1 draw in Turkey, so it managed to better United's result. But it was the result of what at home to Galatasaray, 3-1 loss. And that was the reason they dropped down into the Europa League.
00:05:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, a group with Manchester United, Galatasaray, Cluj and Braga. I mean, looking at the other, you know, the other ah groups in there, bear in mind, this is a case of you had pot one, two, three and four of sort of quality of opposition, quality of opposition, if you want to call it that.
00:05:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
So you'd normally get one team that would run away with it. ah You'd have two teams fighting for that second place spot and someone who's just turning up there and happy to just have the money ah for for turning up.
00:05:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was sort of what the Champions League was. Much better system now, I think. But say this, Dortmund topped a group, Group D, which had Real Madrid, Ajax and Manchester City.
00:05:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, that's that's that's quite something.
00:05:58
Cormac
Jeez, yeah, that is, I mean, when you compare that to our group, I mean, I'd say every team in that would be better than any team we had. um Maybe Ajax not over Galatasaray, but I mean, yeah, that's credit to Dortmund because then they go on to beat Madrid again, um you know, so yeah, fair play to Dortmund that year. That's quite impressive.
00:06:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that was a Man City side, by the way, that had Tevez up top. oh I'm still not over it. Nasri, David Silva, Yaya Toure. They had Kompany, Nastasic, Joe Hart, Maicon, Klichy. I mean, it's it's not a case of it's not a bad side. It's just that I think in all essence, Man City had a
Nani's Red Card Against Real Madrid
00:06:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
really, really tough group that year.
00:06:39
Cormac
Yeah, to say they finished what, third?
00:06:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fourth. They finished fourth in group.
00:06:42
Cormac
Fourth? Wow.
00:06:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. They picked up three points. They didn't they went winless in their group stage to finish bottom.
00:06:48
Cormac
Wow, that's very surprising, especially that was the year after they won the Prem. That's a terrible go at it in Europe.
00:06:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was, but you know we we can't say much recently because we're not in it at the moment.
00:07:00
Cormac
Yeah.
00:07:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
We haven't been it for some time, which is sad. But yeah just bring us all back down to earth. And then, of course, we talk about the game, ah the Real Madrid versus Manchester United game. First of Group H ah took on Real Madrid, who finished second in the, we already mentioned, Group D. And as you said before we started recording there, that was a tough fixture at the best of times. That's that. You see that quarterfinal, semifinal. It's not round of 16. That didn't seem fair.
00:07:28
Cormac
No, I suppose it was evened out with the group we had and then we get ah tough tie like that. um But yeah, no, I remember we, I think the the first leg we drew 1-1, if I believe correctly. I think Ronaldo scored that game as well from a header.
00:07:44
Cormac
um I'm fairly certain, but I mean, we'd done the job, you I got the away goal first leg and then to go to Old Trafford. Yeah. I can't remember the lineup exactly, but I do remember Danny Welbeck was up top and he was actually causing Madrid all sorts of problems.
00:07:59
Cormac
um
00:08:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:08:01
Cormac
I'm not sure if he got the goal or if it was Vidic. I know one of them got it. um But yeah, i believe we were 1-0 up at half-time, looking really good. And then, you know, that moment came with Nani, which I don't think that's ever sending off. I thought it was, in a game like that, it was it was just so harsh. You know, he had clear intent to play the ball.
00:08:23
Cormac
you know, and it was just an unfortunate incident, I think the yellow card would have been the right call. um But yeah, you've it completely changed the game. Modric went on to score and then that was the first time Ronaldo had been back at Old Trafford since the move and he got the goal and didn't celebrate like a gentleman. um Yeah, the hands off.
00:08:42
Cormac
um
00:08:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:08:43
Cormac
But yeah yeah, I mean, I remember Fergie came running down after that red card and was in arms at the ref. Yeah. Yeah, it was just I couldn't believe it. It still hurts. I've heard his last Champions League game, that's how it ended.
00:08:57
Cormac
And yeah, it's just it's tragic. I really feel like if Nani stayed on the pitch, we would won that game.
00:09:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think so. I mean, um it went down, according to UEFA, as a Ramos own goal was the reason we scored in that second leg in at Old Trafford.
00:09:07
Cormac
Ramal's own goal, okay.
00:09:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, Nani gets sent off 56th minute and then Jose Mourinho goes for the jugular. He takes off Arbeloa and brings on Modric, who scores seven minutes later. I mean, yeah, that and that hurts. That does hurt.
00:09:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, I mean, this um you you mentioned about starting line-ups in the game. De Gea in goal, Raphael, Ferdinand, Vidic in ever as a back four, Carrick and Cleverley in that holding midfield. Nanny, Welbeck and Giggs along that front three. And then Van Persie starting up top. So, no Rooney ah in the game. He started on the bench was brought on about the 73rd minute for Tom Cleverley.
00:09:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
So maybe I'm trying to think if there was some sort of injury concerns. He could only play, say, 15, 20 minutes of the match. But this is a Real Madrid side that I'm run through some names for you. ah Fabio Coyntrell, Rafael Varane, Sergio Ramos, Alba Lowa, Xabi Alonso, Sami Khadira, Ronaldo, needs no introduction, Ozil, Di Maria, Higuain up top.
00:10:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then on their bench, of course, they have Pepe, Kaka, Benzema, Modric. it's It's absolutely stacked for Real Madrid. Absolutely stacked.
00:10:14
Cormac
And it makes it even more impressive that, you know, United should have won that game. You're you're talking about Tom Cleverley. Yeah, I know he'd done a job for us, but on paper, when you look at their midfield, even the players on the bench, you know, Modric would have walked into the team. um You know, it's it's credit to Fergie. you know, he always, he made a career out of that, getting the best out of, you know, players who you wouldn't think would be that great.
00:10:37
Cormac
um You know, Welbeck, as I mentioned, was running riot and he probably wouldn't get near that Real Madrid team. Yeah. So yeah, I know credit to Fergie. He made, ah I'd say, a lesser better team on paper than Madrid really go out there and look like the better team, I think.
00:10:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's only one flaw I would point out, and that's that Javier Hernandez was left on the bench. bring him on. He loves the scalping of a goal.
00:11:00
Cormac
Super sub, yeah.
00:11:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
But at that point, we would have needed two goals because, of course, you mentioned, you rightly mentioned, away goals Real Madrid would have gone through, even if we had drawn level on aggregate. It's just, that's the way it was. I'm not so sure about away goals being ruled out. um i'm kind of I still feel mixed about that. I feel like you deserve more if you actually do score away from home. But hey, UEFA got rid of it a few years ago.
00:11:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's not really made a huge difference in my life since, so I can't say I'll notice it too much. But anyway, when we come back after the break, we'll be looking further into the tree as to how far maybe United could have got and who United could have got if it were all a little bit different on the day we faced Madrid.
Hypothetical Quarterfinal Against Galatasaray
00:11:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll be back after this.
00:12:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
So if United had got through against Real Madrid in the round of 16, their next match for the quarterfinals would have been against Galatasaray. And Galatasaray on the return leg really did put up a fight. Again, in Turkey, they managed to win 3-2, with Arbelo actually getting sent off in the 90th minute. Real Madrid really survived to scare and eventually they won 5-3 on aggregate.
00:13:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, quite ah quite a result, ah to say the least. Galatasaray would have had the likes of Muslera in goal. You know absolute Galatasaray legend is ah Fernando Muslera. Emmanuel Ebue starting at fullback there. You had Senekaya, Felipe Melo. You had Wesley Schneider.
00:13:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
You had Didier Drogba playing for Galatasaray at the time. So I feel like this was a side that you sort of underestimated at your peril.
00:13:33
Cormac
Yeah, no, I think when you mention those names, people probably think, you know, it's the end of their careers, you know, don't really have it anymore. But they showed they still had it by the run they made and, you know, beating Madrid um and a ti in one of the legs, excuse me, to show us the quality they had. And yeah, I mean,
00:13:54
Cormac
Going away to Galatasaray, don't know if you've seen like pictures or videos, but I think they call it like the pit of fire or hell or something when they have all the red flares. And it looks like a very intimidating place to to go to. um But yeah, I think if United had got them, I think the away leg definitely would have been tough. um you know I can't remember if we if the higher your seed plays away first or not, but if we could have got a result you know kept in it,
00:14:21
Cormac
ah away to them. I think at Old Trafford, we would have been able to do the job. and um you know Obviously, if we had beaten... We would have been there if we'd beaten Madrid. I think we would have had the confidence. and you know were also Premier League champions that year, so I think we would have pulled through.
00:14:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah What would you reckon? Because Real Madrid struggled against Galatasaray at Turkey. So what do you what do you reckon sort of scoreline prediction or prediction or sort of what it could have been?
00:14:44
Cormac
Yeah, I think... Yeah, I think... mean, you said they beat Madrid by a goal. I think if we even if we had lost but got the away goal, just if we had lost by a goal, I think that would have set us up perfectly for its success.
00:15:00
Cormac
I mean, i could see it being, I don't think we'd run away with it, but I could see it being like a maybe 2-2 draw or maybe, you know, they were to win, like a 2-1 win, um something like that. But I think we'd be in the tie after that still.
00:15:14
Cormac
I don't think Galatasaray would run away with it at all.
00:15:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think I agree with you. sort of It's a case of a way leg would have been tough. I mean, we found that out in the group stage. um And I can't actually remember you a for rules if it it would have even been possible for us to draw Galatasaray at the course of finals.
00:15:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm assuming it would have been possible because there's just got to be a certain point where it's like, well, actually, you probably could come up against who you faced in a group.
00:15:31
Cormac
Yes.
00:15:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah, if if it was possible, and feel free to correct us below, but we're just doing what-if scenario. So please be nice. um But I think, yeah, it it showed in the group stage that Galatasaray are a tough side to beat in Turkey, in Istanbul. So the job would have had have been done at Old Trafford and it would have had to have been, say, Real Madrid winning 3-0. It would have had to have been that because they would have put up a huge fight to get us through. But you're saying we would have won it over two legs.
00:16:06
Cormac
Yeah, I think we would have pulled pulled through. I think just, you know, as I said, we won the league that year. We had we had quality and, um you know, we showed we should have beaten Madrid. And if they would go on to beat them, I think we'd have no problem.
00:16:19
Cormac
Well, we'd have a bit of a
Potential Semifinal Against Dortmund
00:16:20
Cormac
problem. But at all Old Trafford, I think that second leg tie, I think we'd have no problem in seeing seeing the job done.
00:16:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
okay
00:16:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
The next game then um would have been a a huge game because it would have been semi-final against Borussia Dortmund, who eventually made it to the final and lost 2-1 in the final. But...
00:16:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's the first leg that would have been really, really tough. If we had been on the receiving end of Lewandowski four goals in the game, I'm not sure where I would have gone with that. To be honest, I probably wish just been crying.
00:16:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah You know, what was that? 13, 14 years ago? Yeah, that, that, 12, 13 years ago.
00:16:56
Cormac
ah
00:16:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would have been crying. Even at 14, would have been crying. 15, yeah, that sounds about right.
00:17:05
Cormac
Yeah, well, we nearly seen him sooner in the Prem. He nearly had that Blackburn move if it wasn't for that. ah
00:17:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is that true?
00:17:10
Cormac
but
00:17:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is for the volcano in Iceland? I don't know.
00:17:14
Cormac
That's the story anyway.
00:17:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
hey
00:17:15
Cormac
But yeah, yeah. um Obviously it worked out he didn't go to there and done well at Dortmund. But yeah, I mean, that that season at Dortmund were bit of a joke, be honest. You know, they clap at the helm. You know, they had all these um players who, you know, most of them would go on to Bayern that had, you know, great careers. But, you know, Lewandowski, so dangerous, as you mentioned, four goals. You had Marco Reus.
00:17:38
Cormac
in his prime, he had Mario Gürtse up and coming, I believe a year or two before he got that big Bayern move, didn't work out from there, obviously. And you had the likes you know, Mats Hummels, who was coming through as, you know, one of the best centre-backs in the world. And, um you know, you had the likes of then, like, Blasikowski, Piszczek, you know, good experienced players, solid players. So, yeah, it definitely would have been a a tough tie. We would have to, you know, as you said...
00:18:07
Cormac
stay in it at Signale Duna Park, um you know, not let them get away, just shut down Lewandowski. I'd hope Ferdinand Village would have a bit more experience and, you know, wise to deal with him if it came to that match. But, yeah, we we we couldn't let them run away with it there. And then at Old Trafford, I still think we could get a win, but I think it would only be, you know, one goal win, maybe two at the max. But, yeah, that tie would be tough.
00:18:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, to be honest, if if i had if I had my sort of head cap on all this and thinking you know logically about this, this is as far as I think United would have got to. I think Borussia Dortmund, the quality they had on their side, I mean Lewandowski, we're still talking about him 12 years later as he's leading the line at Barcelona. He's still a fantastic striker.
00:18:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, he's had to adapt his game a little bit. Now he's into his late 30s, but he's still a very good striker, deadly in front of goal. He's proven that year after year. You know, we're still talking about it 12 years later. He was just as dangerous now as he was then.
00:19:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah, I don't think I could have coped if he if you put four past United in the first leg. Real Madrid did try and fight back when they went back to the Bernabeu. They needed another, well, and need another goal, really.
00:19:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah to level it up because they did get an away goal. So had they got one more goal in that game, they would have gone through on away goals. But such is the way. Dortmund managed to hang on and make their way to the final. But again, yeah, so many good players in there.
00:19:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think, Matt, did you mention Matt Tummelz? You know, he's been sort of
00:19:41
Cormac
I did it.
00:19:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know Had that time at Dortmund, went to Bayern Munich, crossed the way on a free, on a Bosman, then went back to Dortmund you know just to win a trophy or two, I guess. But yeah, this was this was a really good Dortmund side. I think we would have struggled and I don't think we would it to the final. But Cormac, you reckon we could have?
00:20:01
Cormac
Yeah, I like to be optimistic. And, you know, you you mentioned the dangerous 11-dousey, but we had Van Persie, you know, Premier League Golden Boot winner that year. You know, so we had, you know, a just as good striker that year up top.
00:20:14
Cormac
um And, you know, I think he would have caused all sorts of problems for Hummels and I believe Subotic might have been the other centre-back.
00:20:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:20:23
Cormac
um It would have been, you know, very close. I do think, you know, the attack they had, and especially they were all kind of young back then, might have caused issues for our kind of ageing backline, the likes of Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra.
00:20:37
Cormac
But no, like I like to be optimistic. I think we showed, you know, Madrid gave them a game that we could have beaten Madrid. And I like to be optimistic and say we just squeaked through that one.
00:20:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, how about squeaking through this one?
Facing Bayern Munich in the Final
00:20:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Champions League final, had we made it all the way and Colbert reckons we could have, would have been up against Bayern Munich. And I'm just going to remind you of that Bayern Munich line-up for the final. Manuel Neuer in goal, David Alaba, Dante, Boateng and Philipp Lahm in the back four. Schweinsteiger and Javi Martinez in the middle of the park.
00:21:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ribri, Muller and Robben is that attacking midfield three with Mario Mandzukic up top. Again, still one of those that's still around. ah Maybe not so much now, but definitely a couple of years ago, it did also make it to another Champions League final with Juventus, so ah not too long ago. So yeah he's been a name that's been absolutely you know thrown around so many times as a great great striker.
00:21:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
And in the end, it was a case of a scuffed Robben shot. Still, It's the only way I can see way i can describe it. It's because I'm so jealous. That's why. But yeah, that's the goal that decided the twenty twelve thirteen Champions League final.
00:21:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
It opened up the scoring after the hour mark by Mario Mandzukic. Gundogan levelled from the spot at just eight minutes later before Robben got the winner in the 89th minute. Now, that's a tough side to come up against in Bayern Munich.
00:21:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
How do you reckon it could have gone?
00:21:58
Cormac
Yeah, I mean, i think this is ah where the optimism for me kind of dies down a bit. i Yeah, I think it would be close, but I feel like that Bayern team is just you know so good. I mean, was a good mix. They had some decent young players in there, but then you know the experience, the likes of Philipp Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Robin, Rieberi,
00:22:24
Cormac
You know, I mean, it's just, and that's kind of when, ah is that a season or two after, I think Ribery, they say he should have won the Ballon d'Or that one season. um But, you know, Robin and Ribery were in prime form there, would have caused us all sorts of problems. And it was just such a well-balanced team.
00:22:40
Cormac
I think it would have been a close game. Yeah. I'd like to think, you know, if we had managed to deal with Lewandowski and and got through, we could deal with Mandzukic. But um yeah, I think I i could have seen Bayern just pipping that one maybe by a goal.
00:22:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think as well, we would have had to deal with, you know, it's an amazing attack in Ribery, Muller, Robin, Mandzukic. But we would also have to deal with Philipp Lahm, one of the best players you know, fullbacks of his generation.
00:23:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just not only that, but he managed to play in the middle of the park as well if he was called upon. You know, he's such a versatile player, fantastic leader at the back there for Bayern Munich for many, many years. And to be honest with you, he retired while he was still at the top of his game. He could have gone on for another few years at the very least, but decided to call it, I think, at 33 years old.
00:23:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah, I mean, he was absolutely amazing. um And then when... When Bayern Munich had Lahm retire, they just had Joshua Kimmich come through. And it was like, well, great. You've got another Lahm. Brilliant. Excellent.
00:23:42
Cormac
Irvin Kaplan.
00:23:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
and I don't think Kimmich is quite Lahm's level yet. But maybe that's me talking with rose-tinted glasses. Lahm was incredible. Any team, he'd walk into any team as ah you know one of the best leaders.
00:23:54
Cormac
Yeah, no, absolutely. And I i always loved Philip Lamb. you know me Me playing footy, I was either right back or centre mid, so literally the the same as him.
Philipp Lahm's Career Reflection
00:24:06
Cormac
So he was always a player I kind of looked up to and you know Also interesting as well that I believe in his career he never got a yellow card.
00:24:15
Cormac
i think I'm pretty sure I've seen a stat on that, like 500-something games. he that He never got booked, which is absolutely you know amazing. But yeah, he was just such a great player. But even more than that, he was such a great captain.
00:24:27
Cormac
I believe he captained Germany a good bit as well. um And yeah, he really epitomized Bayern Munich, Bayern Munich lad. And Yeah, I was kind of kind of glad he got his Champions League in the end. He deserved it.
00:24:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
I agree. I agree. it was to I remember watching this game and I thought, I really wanted Dortmund to win. It was their dream run and it and it felt like it should have been and the the fairy tale ending. What it ended up being was every one of those players was pretty much in the Bayern Munich shopping window at that point.
00:24:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
They got Lewandowski in the end. They obviously got Goetze, who I think missed this game in the final, which would have been a huge, huge loss for Dortmund.
00:25:06
Cormac
right.
00:25:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
But eventually they also got Hummels in there as well. um So, yeah, it was it was a case of most of them were in the shop window just for Bayern Munich to have a look at in the end. But, hey, it is what it is. um But would you, you know, you're a bit less optimistic about the final if if we were to come up against Bayern Munich in this era.
00:25:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Would it have been a respectable scoreline? Would it have gone to extra time? Could we have maybe brought it to penalties? what's What's the sort of vibe you would have got as a hypothetical?
00:25:36
Cormac
Yeah, um you know what, now I'm thinking about it. I remember we played Bayern the following year. Remember that with Moyes in the Champions League. Ever scored that screamer away.
00:25:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, but... Oh, yes.
00:25:47
Cormac
And we were actually, goal I think there was only about half an hour left and we were actually going through.
00:25:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:25:52
Cormac
So the fact that Moyes team was able to, you know, give them a game and they brought in, you know, more firepower. I think now that I think about it, it would have been very tight and um might I might actually change my answer and say United might pip it in maybe pens.
00:26:11
Cormac
Yeah, I think there'll be shades of 08 and...
00:26:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who's
00:26:14
Cormac
um my Yeah, ah who won't slip?
00:26:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
who's slipping then?
00:26:19
Cormac
Philip Lamb, maybe.
00:26:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Philip Lam? Blasphemy, that is Absolute blasphemy.
00:26:26
Cormac
Hey, he's captain.
00:26:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
dear.
00:26:27
Cormac
John Terry was captain for Chelsea.
00:26:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, I suppose.
00:26:29
Cormac
Yeah.
00:26:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
i I see the logic. I just don't like it. Oh, dear. Well, pipped on penalties, perhaps. Well, what a time it could have been. But yeah, had that red card not happened, Cormac reckons we could maybe have pipped it at penalties. I, maybe less so, might have got knocked out in the semifinals. But yeah that Dortmund team was absolutely incredible in Klopp maybe was unlucky not to win the Champions League. But...
00:26:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sometimes it just doesn't go your way. And Dortmund have been really a thorn and in the side of Bayern Munich for many years after that. But hey, that's football. Cormac, any final thoughts on today's sort of look back?
00:27:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, we love looking back at Manchester United. Maybe this is a little bit more of a sad one because it's a case of what might have been.
00:27:17
Cormac
Yeah, no, i mean, i always enjoy looking back at the good old days, especially now when we're not having
Sir Alex Ferguson's Final Year and Legacy
00:27:22
Cormac
too much success. i But yeah, I think this, you know, the whole that year, the nanny incident, I think that's one of the tougher ones for me to take over the years in terms of decisions going against us. I mean, we won the Premier League, you know, it was Fergie's last year.
00:27:37
Cormac
you know, it would have been the perfect ending if he had, you know, been able to go on and lead us to a Champions League and get his third Champions League with us. um But yeah, i was just it was such a shame that that decision happened and it really you know ruined ah what could have been.
00:27:53
Cormac
And I think it could have been you know a very successful end to Fergie's incredible reign over us.
00:28:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, Corbett, thank you so much for joining me on today's episode. It's been a pleasure to to have a look back at what might have been. And of course, if you're wondering as well, or if you want to get involved, how far do you think Manchester United would have made it?
00:28:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you think they could have won the Champions League? Maybe there might have been a shock to defeat at Galatasaray. Let us know down in the comments below. Let us know your thoughts. Start a conversation. We'd love to hear from you. We're on all the social media. We're on TikTok. We're on Twitter and X. We're on Instagram and we're on Facebook as GSPN Man United. Go follow us there. Go start the conversation underneath.
00:28:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you're listening to the episodes as well on Apple and Spotify, don't forget you can leave your comments below. Give us a rating. I think you should give us five stars, but I might be a bit biased. I think Cormac agrees. He's nodding his head.
00:28:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
That means then you're missing out. If you're listening on Apple and Spotify, you're seeing missing out on Cormac nodding his head in agreement. You can also watch the episodes on YouTube so you can not miss out on that part. It's at GSPN Daily Man United podcast. It's such a long title, so you have to remember it.
00:29:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you so much for watching and listening today's episode. A big thank you to Cormac as well for joining me on today's podcast. I've been Kieran. I'm going away for a while, but yeah, I'll leave you in their very capable hands. I'm switching off and I'm throwing my phone into the river for a couple of weeks.
00:29:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just as when United are getting into form. Yeah, I don't understand my decision-making either. Make sure you're all tuning in to the next episode though, and I won't doubt your decision-making. In the meantime, take care of yourselves and we'll talk to you soon. Bye-bye.