Manchester United come up against Bayern Munich on Wednesday as they begin their Champions League campaign.
Despite their greatest-ever victory coming at their expense, Manchester United have a terrible record against Bayern Munich. It isn't a great omen.
Going into the lion's den of the Allianz Arena in such a state is asking for a mauling and it's not as though United have a good record against Bayern to fall back on. Something to take a bit of confidence from. In fact, it's the exact opposite. Rio Ferdinand infamously had a blazing row with Ferguson after the match as he took umbrage with the manager's substitutions while the team were ahead, believing they contributed to the eventual defeat. Still, United went into the return fixture full of confidence. Back then, Old Trafford was a fortress few forces had breached and they were in immense form in Europe having reached the last two finals, winning one of them.
Five minutes after the break Rafael da Silva slightly pulled back Ribery while already on a booking. It was an innocuous foul with the winger nowhere near goal, but Ribery immediately demanded a second yellow before his teammates joined the protest and surrounded the referee. "They got him [Rafael] sent off," he blasted with typical Fergie bluster. "There's no doubt about that and they would have never won if we had 11 men. He is a young boy, inexperienced and there's a bit of immaturity about what happened but they got him sent off. Typical Germans.
“Normally he is a fine gentleman but I think what he has said is not right. We were honest and cool in Barcelona and they should be the same.” Robben, the scorer of the crucial goal, also criticised Ferguson's post-match remarks. The Dutchman said: “I can understand the reaction from Ferguson but he is wrong,” he said in The Sun. “We did not put pressure on the ref to send off the player – it was just the right decision by him.
“He barely touched him and, in fact, Ribery did more to him than he did to Ribery. The issue was how the Germans reacted; they knew the boy was on a yellow card, they surrounded the referee, and that happens. We see it time and again with players waving an imaginary card to the referee, and he succumbed.”
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ex-Bayern and Man Utd star identifies two crucial Reds players ahead of tieManchester United face a tricky test in their Champions League opener
Read more »
The four players Bayern could be without for Man Utd fixtureManuel Neuer, Raphael Guerreiro, Joshua Kimmich and Kingsley Coman are injury concerns for the Bundesliga champions before Wednesday night.
Read more »
Man Utd transfer news LIVE Amrabat latest plus Bayern concernsTake a look at the latest news, views and Man Utd transfer rumours in our dedicated blog.
Read more »
Kane issues 'dangerous' Man Utd prediction before Bayern matchBayern Munich signed the free-scoring England captain for £100million from Tottenham this summer.
Read more »
Erik ten Hag can use Bayern Munich fixture to Man Utd’s advantageThere will be a lot of apprehension from those back home but Man Utd can adopt a siege mentality to muster a springboard performance, even if they come away pointless.
Read more »
Ten Hag's shock decision could come back to haunt Bayern against Man UtdMan United are back in the Champions League on Wednesday night as they take on Bayern Munich
Read more »