The Zurich Connection
31-05-2009, 04:05 PM
Istanbul type support... it sure fuckin' ain't... hehehehehe
Manchester United v Barcelona: United fans fail to find the voice of inspiration
They held aloft 16,000 placards urging Manchester United to lift a fourth European Cup 'For Sir Matt' the day after the 100th anniversary of the Old Trafford dynasty-creator's birth.
By Mark Ogden in Rome
Last Updated: 12:20PM BST 28 May 2009
Never forgotten: fans spell Sir Matt Busby's name in Rome, 100 years after his birth Photo: GETTY IMAGES But for once, United's traditionally vociferous and swaggering travelling fans failed to inspire Sir Alex Ferguson's players to answer their call.
While Ferguson's men were outplayed by Barcelona on the pitch, the massed United hordes in the stands were reduced to silent witnesses by the much smaller Catalan contingent. Having left Rome with bitter memories of off-field troubles in the past, the United crowd will at least return to England on Thursday with nothing more than bruised egos.
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As it happened in Rome The Rome authorities and Uefa can count their blessings that both sets of supporters have forged an unlikely bond over the years.
Had the final been an all-English affair between United and Chelsea, or the nightmare scenario of United versus Liverpool, the carnival atmosphere throughout the build-up might have been somewhat different.
The only noticeable element of disharmony came shortly before kick-off when Uefa president Michel Platini appeared on the giant screens inside the ground and was jeered by fans from all corners of the stadium.
The stabbing of one United supporter, who was later discharged from hospital, in the early hours of Wednesday morning, prompted fears of another English football excursion marred by violence in the Italian capital.
That incident proved to be an isolated one, but not as a result of the much-trumpeted alcohol ban supposedly implemented by the Rome lawmakers.
Despite ordering that the city centre become a booze-free zone from 11pm on Tuesday until 6am on Thursday, alcohol was readily available throughout the day in hotel bars, street cafés and in areas less than 100 yards from the stadium. Fans from both sides mingled freely, beer in hand.
Just as in Rotterdam in 1991, when United defeated Barcelona to lift the Cup Winners' Cup, and in Istanbul for Liverpool's Champions League triumph against AC Milan in 2005, the English supporters heavily outnumbered their opponents inside the stadium, despite Uefa's attempts to restrict the sale of black-market tickets.
A conservative estimate is that Barca's fans were in a minority of three to one. For long periods, however, it was they who were making the most noise. Samuel Eto'o's early goal came against the run of the play and it served to reduce the early volume from the United contingent.
Red and blue streamers erupted from the Curva Sud stand and the Stadio Olimpico reverberated to Mediterranean melodies.
United's 12th man, the 35,000 or so United fans inside the ground, were losing the battle for vocal supremacy. The flags and banners – 'If I hadn't seen such riches, I could live with being poor', 'Manchester United – The Religion', 'Manchester United – They Always Score' – had to be the inspiration for Ferguson's players. Ferguson's decision to replace Anderson with the fans' favourite Carlos Tevez at half-time should have livened up the United followers, but the roar of approval subsided as quickly as it came.
Ferguson has complained in the past of United's followers too often sitting on their hands, waiting for the players to inspire them into action. They fell into that trap again in the Olympic Stadium.
If United reach another Champions League final, they'll need the supporters' spirit of Rotterdam rather than the complacency of Rome. Barcelona's fans simply wanted it more.
Manchester United v Barcelona: United fans fail to find the voice of inspiration
They held aloft 16,000 placards urging Manchester United to lift a fourth European Cup 'For Sir Matt' the day after the 100th anniversary of the Old Trafford dynasty-creator's birth.
By Mark Ogden in Rome
Last Updated: 12:20PM BST 28 May 2009
Never forgotten: fans spell Sir Matt Busby's name in Rome, 100 years after his birth Photo: GETTY IMAGES But for once, United's traditionally vociferous and swaggering travelling fans failed to inspire Sir Alex Ferguson's players to answer their call.
While Ferguson's men were outplayed by Barcelona on the pitch, the massed United hordes in the stands were reduced to silent witnesses by the much smaller Catalan contingent. Having left Rome with bitter memories of off-field troubles in the past, the United crowd will at least return to England on Thursday with nothing more than bruised egos.
Related Articles
Manchester United 0 Barcelona 2
Ferguson: We let in shoddy goals
Man Utd v Barcelona: Photos
United v Barcelona: Ratings
United v Barcelona: Timeline
As it happened in Rome The Rome authorities and Uefa can count their blessings that both sets of supporters have forged an unlikely bond over the years.
Had the final been an all-English affair between United and Chelsea, or the nightmare scenario of United versus Liverpool, the carnival atmosphere throughout the build-up might have been somewhat different.
The only noticeable element of disharmony came shortly before kick-off when Uefa president Michel Platini appeared on the giant screens inside the ground and was jeered by fans from all corners of the stadium.
The stabbing of one United supporter, who was later discharged from hospital, in the early hours of Wednesday morning, prompted fears of another English football excursion marred by violence in the Italian capital.
That incident proved to be an isolated one, but not as a result of the much-trumpeted alcohol ban supposedly implemented by the Rome lawmakers.
Despite ordering that the city centre become a booze-free zone from 11pm on Tuesday until 6am on Thursday, alcohol was readily available throughout the day in hotel bars, street cafés and in areas less than 100 yards from the stadium. Fans from both sides mingled freely, beer in hand.
Just as in Rotterdam in 1991, when United defeated Barcelona to lift the Cup Winners' Cup, and in Istanbul for Liverpool's Champions League triumph against AC Milan in 2005, the English supporters heavily outnumbered their opponents inside the stadium, despite Uefa's attempts to restrict the sale of black-market tickets.
A conservative estimate is that Barca's fans were in a minority of three to one. For long periods, however, it was they who were making the most noise. Samuel Eto'o's early goal came against the run of the play and it served to reduce the early volume from the United contingent.
Red and blue streamers erupted from the Curva Sud stand and the Stadio Olimpico reverberated to Mediterranean melodies.
United's 12th man, the 35,000 or so United fans inside the ground, were losing the battle for vocal supremacy. The flags and banners – 'If I hadn't seen such riches, I could live with being poor', 'Manchester United – The Religion', 'Manchester United – They Always Score' – had to be the inspiration for Ferguson's players. Ferguson's decision to replace Anderson with the fans' favourite Carlos Tevez at half-time should have livened up the United followers, but the roar of approval subsided as quickly as it came.
Ferguson has complained in the past of United's followers too often sitting on their hands, waiting for the players to inspire them into action. They fell into that trap again in the Olympic Stadium.
If United reach another Champions League final, they'll need the supporters' spirit of Rotterdam rather than the complacency of Rome. Barcelona's fans simply wanted it more.