MUTV is currently putting together a documentary to mark the tenth anniversary of the Treble. And it’s the spirit of 1999 that we’re going to need to draw upon this week.
This campaign does bring back memories of the miraculous 1998/99 campaign. A tight title race, a huge game every few days and tension that shortens the fingernails.
First up this week, it's do or die in Portugal. When was the last time we drew the home leg of a Champions league tie and won the away leg to go through to the next round? Juventus in 1999. Who will be our Roy Keane this time around? Will Ronaldo take the game by the scruff of the neck in his home country? I wouldn’t bet against it.
History certainly isn’t on our side. We've lost our last four Champions League ties after failing to win the first leg at home (AC Milan in 2007 and 2005, Bayer Leverkusen in 2002 and Bayern Munich in 2001). And no English team has ever won in Porto. But so what? This is far from mission impossible. I have to admit that Porto were much better than I’d expected them to be. The front three were a serious threat. But does anyone really think they are unbeatable? Indeed, the pressure could well be on them now. Rank outsiders when the draw was made, they now have the advantage in the tie. How will they cope with that? For United, the task is straightforward in its aim: win.
We’ve only conceded once away from home in the Champions League this season and we've looked very solid. Our performance in Milan was one of the very best this season – play as well in Porto on Wednesday and United will surely take
a semi-final spot for a third year running.
And if it is going wrong in the Estadio do Dragao, then we can always call on Kiko! What a story this has turned out to be. The young man scores arguably our goal of the season against Villa on his debut, then takes just 46 seconds to score another winner after coming off the bench at Sunderland. And, typical striker, he made everyone aware that it was his goal and insisted that he meant to divert Carrick’s shot into the net. “The boy has got something special”, Sir Alex told me after the game. Too right.
Having the knack of scoring crucial goals is a special talent. Who's to say that he can’t do it again in Portugal this week? Then the hype would go into overdrive. Personally, I hope we don’t need any heroics on Wednesday. A comfortable 2-0 would do nicely. But, as we all know, by now doing things the easy way just doesn’t seem to be part of United's DNA.
Watch the best moments from the Stadium of Light on MUTV Online now, or tune in to the Big Match on MUTV on Monday at 17.30 BST. Also keep an eye out for MUTV's build-up to the match in Porto over the next couple of days. Relax, we’ll be fine!
Ujungpandang Time
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