The week ahead for United
It is another a huge week at Manchester United, as Old Trafford hosts Champions League and Premier League football. With our Under-18s in derby action and plenty of birthdays and anniversaries to mark, there is much to keep an eye out for over the next seven days…
MONDAY
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be putting his players through a high-intensity workout ahead of the big game against Barcelona. It also gives the Norwegian a chance to add any extra details to his tactical set-up, as an intriguing battle with the leaders of La Liga awaits.
In the evening, The Paddy Crerand Show on MUTV at 18:30 BST will begin the countdown to the Champions League tie. The former European Cup winner will preview the match and provide his expert opinion, alongside fellow ex-Red Quinton Fortune.
TUESDAY
The Reds will have a training session in the morning, the first 15 minutes of which will be open to the media. At 14:00 BST, Ole will then speak to the press in the first of his two press conferences this week. Make sure to tune in to MUTV to see the boss’ thoughts on Barcelona, dealing with Lionel Messi and the latest team news ahead of the match. He will also be joined by one of our players, before Barca boss Ernesto Valverde faces the cameras at 17:00 BST, along with one of his first-team squad. The Spanish champions will have a light training session at Old Trafford later that evening, with the first 15 minutes again open to the media.
The new edition of Inside United is released - featuring Ole on the cover and an exclusive interview with Chris Smalling.
Yorkie: Ole's Reds can beat Barcelona
Yorkie starred in two classic Champions League games against Barca in '98! He feels we can beat them next week...
It’s the big day, as another chapter will be written in the epic rivalry between the Reds and Barca. The Catalan club have never won at Old Trafford, a record Ole’s men will be aiming to extend in the quarter-final showdown. The game kicks off at 20:00 BST and you can follow exclusive build-up on MUTV from 18:30 BST, plus full coverage in our Official App.
United do have pedigree of superb European performances on this date, as it is 12 years to the day since our phenomenal 7-1 victory against Roma to reach the Champions League semi-finals. It is also a quarter of a century since Mark Hughes’s outrageous late volley against Oldham Athletic in the FA Cup semi-final secured a replay for Alex Ferguson’s Reds. Meanwhile, on this day in 1993, Steve Bruce’s headed double against Sheffield Wednesday sent United a huge step closer to a first Premier League title. Ironically, the former Red now manages the Owls.
As we continue to mark the 20th anniversary of our Treble campaign, this day commemorates two decades since our 0-0 draw with Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park. Of course, the sides famously met just a few days later in the replay.
FRIDAY
Ole will again welcome the media to the Aon Training Complex as he turns his attentions to the weekend’s Premier League meeting with West Ham United. The boss will be hoping for a repeat of last season’s 4-0 win over the Hammers at Old Trafford, when Romelu Lukaku (2), Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial were all on target for the Reds. As usual, you can hear Ole’s thoughts on MUTV, and potentially gain some insight about which side he will select on Saturday.
Elsewhere, we will be wishing defender Eric Bailly a very happy 25th birthday, while, on this day in 1992, Brian McClair scored the only goal at Wembley as we beat Nottingham Forest 1-0 to win the League Cup for the first time.
A busy day starts with Neil Ryan’s Under-18 side in action against Manchester City. The Reds drew 3-3 with Sunderland last week, but a win at the Etihad Campus could help close the gap to second-place Liverpool. The game kicks off at 11:00 BST and will be broadcast live on MUTV.
Of course, later in the day we meet West Ham, in a match that begins at 17:30 BST, with live build-up starting from 16:00 BST on MUTV. It could prove to be a massive game in the hunt to finish in the Champions League places, with our rivals for a top-four spot all in action over the course of the extended programme as Arsenal face Watford on Monday.
Meanwhile, former midfielder Anderson turns 31 on this day, and it will be exactly 25 years since we overcame Oldham 4-1 in an FA Cup semi-final replay at Maine Road, on our march to winning the Double in 1994.
Twenty years on from that Ryan Giggs’ goal against Arsenal, we will be commemorating one of our most famous matches from the Treble campaign on ManUtd.com, and our official app. Relive it all, from David Beckham’s opening goal, to Peter Schmeichel’s penalty save and, of course, Giggy’s incredible winner in extra-time.
Elsewhere, on this day in 1990, Les Sealey made his United debut in a 2-1 win away at Queens Park Rangers. It was the first of 56 appearances across two spells for Sealey, who sadly passed away in 2001. It is also 18 years to the day since we were crowned champions in the 2000/01 season.
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