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O CLUBE

Desde os primórdios do futebol inglês

A criação do Manchester United remonta aos primórdios do futebol inglês. Foi em 1878 que o United, então com o nome de Newton Heath LYR Football Club, foi fundado por uma das maiores companhias ferroviárias inglesas, a Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. Começou por disputar encontros contra outras equipas formadas dentro da própria companhia e mais tarde fundou e integrou uma mini-liga com outras equipas, como o Nottingham Forest, por exemplo. No entanto, numa altura de dificuldades económicas para toda a população, o United não escapou e na viragem de século teve de saldar dívidas consideráveis, pela mão de John Henry Davies, um “empresário” inglês que se tornaria presidente do clube e que lhe introduziria alterações que caracterizam o Manchester United ainda hoje: a mudança de nome, para o actual, e a troca do verde e amarelo, cores do clube, pelo encarnado berrante.

O sucesso não tardaria a chegar. A primeira “era” de domínio e ascensão do United começa com a contratação do treinador Ernest Mangnall, que promove o clube ao principal escalão do futebol inglês em 1906. Vence a Primeira Liga e a Charity Shield (equivalente à Supertaça) em 1908 e a FA Cup no ano seguinte e em 1910 é fundado o mítico Old Trafford. No ano seguinte volta a sagrar-se campeão, mas a saía de Mangnall precipita aquela que seria o primeiro período de declínio dos Red Devils.

Surge a Primeira Guerra Mundial, mas a grande tragédia para os mancunianos seria a despromoção do principal escalão do futebol inglês, em 1922. Subiriam anos mais tarde, mas até 1939, ano da Segunda Grande Guerra, o United faria o percurso que separa os dois principais escalões do futebol inglês algumas vezes. Tornara-se um clube desleixado, perdedor. Durante a Segunda Guerra, o estádio foi usado como armazém pelos ingleses e bombardeado pelos alemães, que destruíram boa parte do recinto. Eram os piores anos da história do United.

Glória com Sir Matt Busby

No início da época de 1945/46, o United escolheu, mais que um treinador, um autêntico manager. Matt Busby envolveu-se em todas as vertentes da vida do clube, desde os simples treinos às transferências, sempre com um controlo e um grau de exigência sem precedentes na história do United. E onde há competência e vontade, há sucesso. Assim foi. Três segundos lugares entre 1947 e 1949 e vitória na FA Cup em 1948. Busby queria mais. E teria mais. Em 1956, 41 anos depois do último campeonato, o Manchester voltava a sagrar-se campeão com uma equipa extremamente jovem, com a média de idades a rondar os 22 anos, equipa essa que ficou conhecida por Busby babes. O campeonato foi revalidado no ano seguinte e após este bicampeonato o United foi convidado a participar na Taça dos Campeões Europeus, onde atingiu a meia-final, caindo aos pés do todo poderoso Real Madrid.

Anos de glória que seriam ensombrados por um dos dias mais negros da história do clube: a 6 de Fevereiro de 1958, após um jogo da Taça dos Campeões Europeus contra o Estrela Vermelha, o avião que transportava a equipa do United e jornalistas despenhou-se contra uma casa pouco depois de levantar voo do aeroporto de Munique. Resultaram 23 mortos deste acidente, incluindo oito jogadores. O United demorou, naturalmente, alguns anos a reerguer-se, mas o olho clínico de Busby conduziu os Red Devils ao sucesso, novamente. Nomes como Bobby Charlton, Dennis Law, Pat Crerand, Nobby Stiles e, claro, George Best, guindaram novamente o clube ao sucesso, com a FA Cup em 1963, e o campeonato em 1965 e 1967. Novamente na ribalta do futebol europeu, o MU tornar-se-ia o primeiro clube de terras de sua majestade a vencer a Taça dos Campeões Europeus, em 1968, contra o Benfica, numa final renhida mas que terminou 4-1 após prolongamento. Busby tinha criado uma equipa vencedora, perdera-a em Munique e fez com que o United renascesse das cinzas para ganhar mais dois campeonatos e a Taça dos Campeões Europeus. Uma lenda.

Na sombra dos “Reds” e do “Damned” United

Em Inglaterra, após a saída de um treinador há geralmente um período de declínio. O United já o tinha vivenciado na era pós-Mangnall e viveria algo semelhante após a reforma de Sir Matt Busby. O United campeão nacional e europeu teria, entre 1969 e 1986, uma série de péssimos resultados, especialmente nos anos 70. Nessa década, apenas por uma vez ficaria entre os três primeiros classificados (terceiro em 1975/76). McGuinness, O’Farrell, Docherty e Sexton, uns mais famosos que outros, mas nenhum capaz de guindar o Manchester à glória. Apenas a espaços (FA Cup em 1976/77) se foi mostrando o valor do United, mas os maus resultados foram demasiados. Relegados em 1973/74, após derrota caseira contra os rivais citizens, o United voltaria à Premier League no ano seguinte. Foram vários os ups and downs do maior clube inglês da década de 60. Ron Atkinson foi o último treinador destes tempos conturbados: contratou o mítico Bryan Robson, médio inglês que capitaneou o Manchester United durante 12 épocas, lançou outro nome histórico do maior clube de Manchester (Mark Hughes) e venceu duas FA Cup, em 1983 e 1985. Conseguiu melhores resultados na Liga que os seus antecessores, ainda assim não suficientemente bons e seria despedido pouco depois do arranque da época 1986/87.

Quem lhe seguiria… Alex Ferguson.


Regresso à glória pela mão de Alex Ferguson

Após o despedimento de Atkinson, Alex Ferguson, treinador do Aberdeen, foi o timoneiro escolhido para levar o United a bom porto. Mas o sucesso não foi imediato, longe disso. Até 1993, ano do primeiro campeonato ganho pela mão de Alex Ferguson, o United teria desempenhos pouco satisfatórios na Liga: 11º, 2º, 11º, 13º, 6º, 2º. Pode mesmo dizer-se que as vitórias na FA Cup e Charity Shield em 1990 e na Taça das Taças e Supertaça Europeia em 1991 salvaram a carreira de Ferguson.

No entanto, o sucesso definitivo e permanente chega a Old Trafford em 1993 para não mais sair de lá. E por muitos adversários que venham na luta pelo título (primeiro Blackburn, depois Newcastle, seguindo-se Arsenal, Liverpool e Chelsea), a verdade é que o United continua a vencer e a vencer mais que qualquer outro. O reinado de Ferguson é pautado por uma disciplina férrea, o lançamento de duas gerações de grandes jogadores britânicos (a primeira é a de 1992, com Giggs, os irmãos Neville, Scholes, Beckham e Butt, a segunda é a de Smalling, Jones, Welbeck, Evans e Cleverley) e muitos, muitos títulos. Duplas, “trebels” (três títulos no mesmo ano), são dezenas de títulos. Cinco FA Cups, quatro League Cups, e doze, sim, doze Premier Leagues, tendo inclusivamente ultrapassado o mítico Liverpool que “apenas” soma 18 títulos, contra 19 do United. Aqui contam-se dobradinhas, naturalmente, e dois tricampeonatos (99-01 e 07-09), algo inédito na história do clube. Mas não é só a nível interno que o poderio dos comandados de Alex Ferguson se faz sentir. Na Europa do futebol, Manchester é rei. Duas Ligas dos Campeões, ambas vencidas de forma dramática, a primeira em Barcelona frente ao Bayern Munique (2-1), com os golos da vitória a surgirem apenas no período de compensação da segunda parte, por Sheringham e Solskjaer, e a segunda após a marcação de grandes penalidades, num jogo em que John Terry, capitão do rival Chelsea, escorregou no penalty decisivo que daria o título aos londrinos. Nas últimas quatro edições da Champions League, o United alcançou a final por 3 ocasiões (vitória contra o Chelsea em 2008, derrotas com o Barcelona em 2009 e 2011) e estes desempenhos consistentes valeram aos ingleses o primeiro lugar no ranking da UEFA.

ENCONTROS ANTERIORES

SL Benfica vs. Manchester United – 7J, 1V, 1E, 5D, 8GM, 19GS
SL Benfica vs. Equipas Inglesas – 25J, 9V, 2E, 14D, 34GM, 46GS
Manchester United vs. Equipas Portuguesas – 21J, 14V, 3E, 4D, 46GM, 26GS

PALMARÉS

19 First Division/Premier League – 1907/08, 1910/11, 1951/52, 1955/56, 1956/57, 1964/65, 1966/67, 1992/93, 1993/94, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1998/99, 1999/00, 2000/01, 2002/03, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2010/11

2 Second Division – 1935/36, 1974/75

11 FA Cup – 1908/09, 1947/48, 1962/63, 1976/77, 1982/83, 1984/85, 1989/90, 1993/94, 1995/96, 1998/99, 2003/04

4 League Cup – 1991/92, 2005/06, 2008/09, 2009/10

19 Community Shield - 1908/09, 1911/12, 1952/53, 1956/57, 1957/58, 1965/66, 1967/68, 1977/78, 1983/84, 1990/91, 1993/94, 1994/95, 1996/97, 1997/98, 2003/04, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2010/11, 2011/12

3 Champions League - 1967/68, 1998/99, 2007/08

1 Cup Winner’s Cup – 1990/91

1 UEFA Super Cup – 1991/1992

1 Intercontinental Cup - 1999

1 FIFA Club World Cup - 2008

O QUE DIZEM OS RED DEVILS?

À semelhança do que se faz em outros países, nomeadamente em Inglaterra, com o famoso Spyin' kop dos adeptos do Liverpool, decidimos também recolher opiniões entre os adeptos do Manchester United. Agradecemos a disponibilidade do abojodeh, Clarky101, Owenzy, crazy for man utd-greece, MikeyM, Veracruz United, dualtamac, Fozzy Bear, Because I'm DC, lucretius, Spoonman Red, Jay007, NoxiousD, rezZyREDdevil, yangch0000, MUFC19, todos do fórum Man Utd Talk (www.manutdtalk.com).

Nota: por falta de tempo não foi possível traduzir as respostas dos adeptos do United para português. Quem não perceber as respostas, pode utilizar esta ferramenta da Google para obter uma tradução mais ou menos precisa.

1. Your team is living the most successful years of its history. Since the 90’s, Manchester United is synonyms of wins, titles and trophies. Two decades uninterrupted. What are your expectations for this season in both domestic and European competitions?

Owenzy: I expect to see the young players develop and learn from their experiences. We'll almost definitely finish either 1st or 2nd. The quarter finals of The Champions League should be the minimum target.

MikeyM: Ideally I'd love us to win the lot. City are looking dangerous, so I really want us to beat them to the league. In Europe I think everyone is looking up at Barca - they ripped us to shreds last may and have added Sanchez and Cesc. While we're better than we were - I think our best chance for the Champions League is to get Barca over two legs. One off game Barca are phenomenal. To be honest one trophy I'd love to win again is the FA Cup, while it's not maybe the competition it once was - it's been a long time since we won it and it'd be nice to raise it again - ideally as part of a double (I dare not hope for another Treble).

Jay007: I expect to finish in the Top 2 in the League with Manchester City, but I do think we'll win the League again this year. The cup competitions are hard to say, but I do think that the squad is better this year so we have a better chance to get to the latter stages then as well. As for Europe, I think we'll reach the quarter-finals at least if not later.

2. After so many years of victories, do you still fear the Glazer’s impact on the club or you trust them?

yangch0000: Can somebody kill them off?

Clarky101: Trophies, babes, managers, stars, disasters, the fans are a major important part of our history as well. Us season ticket holders see huge ticket allocations vanish to outsiders and into the glazers pocket, just one example of many of the cancer that is Malcolm Glazer and his sons.

Because I'm DC: I don't trust them at all. There is an element of fear I suppose. I'm not concerned about perceived lack of transfer funds because they have continued to give Fergie plenty, but there is a worry about the long-term future of the club.

3. Sir Alex Ferguson has been the head coach of your team for the last 25 years. When the day of his retirement comes, do you think Man Utd will lose some supremacy? And who would you like to take his place?

abojodeh: No one will be able to replicate what Sir Alex Ferguson done. But some will do a better job than others. The pressure will be too much, and it'll take someone special to be successful with us. My preferred choice is André Villas-Boas. Tactically astute, well spoken, respectful, intelligent manager, who likes to play attacking football and gives the youth their chance. I'd also love to see Ole Gunnar Solskjær or Ryan Giggs taking the job.

crazy for man utd-greece: I do believe that when Sir Alex retires our club will experience a certain downfall.Those boots are pretty big to fill in and almost any manager in the world will fail as the immediate successor of Sir Alex.One of the managers who I think has more chances than anyone else to be successful is Jose Mourinho and I believe that he will be the one who will take over after Sir Alex retires.

Jay007: Fergie will undoubtedly leave us in a strong position, with a great team with a mix of youth and experience so that will help the new manager and will leave us fairly strong. Things will be different though, and no doubt there probably will be a few bumps in the road somewhere. I'm never sure who I want to be the new manager, it's a big thing as you'll probably expect. At the moment , I'd say: If we go for a British manager, I'd say that I'd like to see David Moyes here. But if we decide to go for someone outside of Britain, then I'm leaning a bit towards Didier Deschamps. I'd love to see Ole Solskjaer back here as manager one day, but only if he's ready for the job.

4. After the first generation of the Fergie babes, do you think this new group of players (Smalling, Jones, Evans, Fábio, Rafael, Gibson, Cleverley, Welbeck, Macheda) will achieve the same level of quality of the Beckham, Giggs, Scholes, Neville and Butt generation?

crazy for man utd-greece: This current crop is extremely talented and there are some world beaters in the making in it, but it can in no way be compared to Fergie's fledgings cause that group was special!Those players were already world class by the age of 17-19.

MikeyM: No. But then the class of 1992 was a phenomenon - a once in a lifetime occurence. I think our current youngsters (Gibson aside) are excellent, and will play at the highest level for United for many, many years - but you can't compare them to Scholes, Becks, Giggs and the Nevilles.

Spoonman Red: I have my doubts that there will ever be another group as strong as that group that came through. But Jones, Smalling, Cleverley and Welbeck are four players who are establishing themselves very well and will be fixtures in the United side for a long time to come. How good they all turn out to be, time will tell. (although I'm convinced that Jones will be rated as one of the very best defenders in the world within the next five years).

5. Is Man Utd stronger or weaker this season, in comparison with 2010/2011? Which players have you bought and sold this transfer window?

rezZyREDdevil: I believe we're stronger this season, we've brought in players like Young, Jones and De Gea.
Clearly De Gea will need time to fullfill his potential, but Young and Jones have come into the team amazingly. Jones will be a future United and England captain if he continues the way hes started. Plus certain players who may have been off form last season (Rooney, Evra etc) seem to have started much better this time around.

lucretius: Weaker in nets, stronger everywhere else. Jones and Young have come in and look like they've been playing with Utd for years. Welbeck and Cleverley have come back from Premier League loans with some vital experience and are looking very promising. What's particularly pleasing is the type of football being played - lots of short, intricate one-touch passes. The only notable absentees from last season are Van der Sar, Scholes, Neville (all retired), O'Shea and Brown (moved to Sunderland).

Spoonman Red: We have less experience with the loss of Van der Sar, Scholes and Neville, which might possibly harm us at certain times. That said, you have to move on and evolve and football is a young mans game. We definitely have more vibrancy and cutting edge this season than we did last. I was sad about Wes Brown and O'Shea being sold but obviously Fergie had a plan (ie. using Jones and Smalling at full back). I believe the signing of Ashley Young has shown that he still has a great eye for a player and he has fit in very well. There are still question-marks over De Gea and naturally he lacks the assurance of Edwin. But he is improving every game and I still think he can be a good keeper for us. As I've already said, Jones will be world class. The level that he is playing at for the age of 19 is amazing.

6. Who do you consider to be your best player?

Veracruz United: At the moment Wayne Rooney without a doubt.

dualtamac: Wayne Rooney, and anyone who says otherwise is kidding themselves.

NoxiousD: Vidic

7. And the weakest (from those who are expected to be in the starting lineup)?

abojodeh: De Gea, because of his lack of experience. I'd also say Evra, on his current form he's our worst player from the starting lineup, but it doesn't mean he's bad.

Owenzy: Evra can be a liability.

dualtamac: Michael Carrick.

8. Are you satisfied with the result of the draw for the Champions League?

yangch0000: Probably the easiest group on paper, but it is 6 matches, and we have to do well to progress.

Spoonman Red: Yes. It was a pretty good draw. Benfica will as always be tough opposition. We've met Basel before in the group stages and they weren't push-overs. I don't know how good their current side is but although i would expect us to beat them home and away we must not be complacent. As far as Otelul go: I am completely clueless as to what kind of test they will be. They don't look like much, but Romanians are often good players technically and you sometimes need to beware of such an unknown quantity. They could spring a surprise or two. Especially if they are underestimated by the likes of United and Benfica.

Because I'm DC: Yes. I think there's scope for resting a few players in certain games as we have done in recent seasons in the group stages.

9. What do you know about SL Benfica?

rezZyREDdevil: Nationality, team colors, Certain players (Luisão, Simão, Cardoza, Nolito..etc) and some history including Yourselves and us. Along with your stadium translating to "Stadium of Light" which reminds me of an English team called Sunderland. Along with rivals, Sporting Lisbon and Porto.

crazy for man utd-greece: A lot! That you are a legendary club and one of the most successful in the world.You have 2 european cups in the finals of which you beat Barcelona and the allmighty Milan of the 60's.One of the best players to ever grace this planet played for you(Eusebio).You have the most paid club members than any other club in the world and you are vast supported in the world.You have one supporters club that is called The Red Devils just like our team is called. Uhm what more? That you have won ridiculously many championships and cups. You have a great stadium in which one the best things in my life took place(Greece winning the Euro).Your eagle is quite awesome. And that is that!

lucretius: Eusebio, of course. Rich domestic and European heritage, and the first team to advance on the away-goals rule (beating my sort-of local team, Glentoran). Largest fanclub in the world too.

10. If you could buy a player from our team, who would you choose?

MUFC19: Oscar Cardozo

NoxiousD: Witsel, wish we had gone for Luiz or Coentrao too

MikeyM: I'm annoyed we missed David Luis and Angel Di Maria. As I said, I have to sheepishly say I don't know an awful lot about Benfica's current squad.

11. Do you think Sir Alex will rest some players because of the game against Chelsea on Sunday? Which players will be included in the starting lineup against Benfica?

Clarky101: De Gea; Smalling, Fabio, Jones, Evans; Park, Valencia, Carrick, Giggs; Berbatov, Hernandez

FozzyBear: He may make a few changes, but Fergie says alot of things and does somehting else. I can see this line up: de Gea; Jones, Rio, Evans, Evra; Valencia, Fletcher, Giggs, Young; Rooney, Chicharto

lucretius: That'll certainly be on his mind. The favourite formation for European games is a 4-2-3-1, which I also expect to see against Chelsea after it was so successful against them last season. It will depend on which game Fergie picks Giggs for, but I imagine something like: De Gea; Smalling, Jones, Evans, Evra; Carrick, Giggs, nani, Park, Rooney; Hernandez.

12. Can you predict the score, for both matches against us?

MUFC19: Benfica 0-1 United; United 2-0 Benfica

Jay007: Two close games I'd say. Benfica 0 - 1 Man Utd, Man Utd 2 - 0 Benfica

FozzyBear: Confidence is high in the camp. Away 1-3 to us. Home 2-0 to us.