That loss to Leverkusen

[AshRK]

I was watching highlights of some past United matches and came across this match in 01-02 where we lost in sf to them on away goals. Although we were shakey defensively and that Leverkusen side were good but I feel (from the highlights) we should have progressed to the finals and played Madrid.

Now granted I was too young to be an avid football follower back then, so wanted to know the gravity of that loss back then. I know we weren't that great that season considering we finished 3rd but somehow I feel that was a missed opportunity to not face madrid in the finals and even beat them.

What do you guys think?

 

[madzo2007]

That Forlan shot that was cleared off the line, think it was near the end

If we had Beckham in the team who was out with the metatarsal it might have made the difference.

 

[AshRK]

That Forlan shot that was cleared off the line, think it was near the end

If we had Beckham in the team who was out with the metatarsal it might have made the difference.

I was thinking the same. Beckham may have been the missing link.

 

[2cents]

I was watching highlights of some past United matches and came across this match in 01-02 where we lost in sf to them on away goals. Although we were shakey defensively and that Leverkusen side were good but I feel (from the highlights) we should have progressed to the finals and played Madrid.

Now granted I was too young to be an avid football follower back then, so wanted to know the gravity of that loss back then. I know we weren't that great that season considering we finished 3rd but somehow I feel that was a missed opportunity to not face madrid in the finals and even beat them.

What do you guys think?

One of many CL exits that annoys me years and years later - Dortmund, Monaco, Real (in 2000), Leverkusen, Porto, Bayern (2010). I don’t know how we lost all those, we really should have gone through some of them.

 

[AshRK]

One of many CL exits that annoys me years and years later - Dortmund, Monaco, Real (in 2000), Leverkusen, Porto, Bayern (2010). I don’t know how we lost all those, we really should have gone through some of them.

I would even add Madrid in 2013. We literally dominated them only for nani to be sent off and us collapsing. It's like we never got our benefit of luck in these matches.

 

[Ludens the Red]

I feel the thread title should be that draw to Leverkusen.
Anyway yeah I’m old enough to remember it well. We were awesome going forward that season but shit at the back. Blanc, Barthez and Brown were basically responsible for us not winning anything, as harsh as that may sound.
We were better than them, had a few clearances off the line. Had Beckham and Neville been fit we’d definitely have got through. Bayer Leverkusen also had no business getting in the way and getting to a cl final. Pricks.

 

[2 man midfield]

Whenever I’ve watched any games back that we’ve lost from 2001-04 ish I always come out thinking barthez cost us

 

[Offside]

Would have been great to have Fergie manage us in a CL final in Glasgow. Huge disappointment.

 

[Kag]

One of the many annoying CL knockout ties we lost, as @2cents has rightly mentioned. I was young, so it was one of my first memories of feeling gutted about a football match.

It could have been worse, we could have all supported Leverkusen that season. They threw the title away that year, lost their domestic cup final, as well as the Champions League final.

 

[AshRK]

I feel the thread title should be that draw to Leverkusen.
Anyway yeah I’m old enough to remember it well. We were awesome going forward that season but shit at the back. Blanc, Barthez and Brown were basically responsible for us not winning anything, as harsh as that may sound.
We were better than them, had a few clearances off the line. Had Beckham and Neville been fit we’d definitely have got through. Bayer Leverkusen also had no business getting in the way and getting to a cl final. Pricks.

Although a draw but it definitely felt like a loss.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

I have it in my memory that Barthez messed up for a goal.

Porto a few years later maybe a bit worse when you consider it was a late goal, Howard mistake, and Porto went onto win it in a relatively easy final.

 

[Chairman Steve]

The tie is up there with the most frustrating Utd losses witnessed for me. Solskjær missed an almost open goal in the home leg as I remember and the moment a lot of Utd fans started to turn on Barthez.

Sir Alex reversed the retirement decision only a few weeks before. The league season was basically finish as high as possible and let’s try win the Champions League as even then, we were still seen as underachievers in Europe. The familar agony of being knocked out on away goals. There was a sentimental angle to it for Sir Alex too in that the final was played in his native Glasgow and he had gone to see the last European Cup final held in Glasgow between Eintracht Frankfurt and Real Madrid... and Real were on the other side of the draw.

I take solace in the fact that Leverkusen had the capitulation of capitulations not too long after taking our scalp. Their version of a treble up in smokes and their best players inevitably poached by big brother Bayern. A young Berba featured for them as a piece of trivia.

Klaus Toppmoller (looking like 1980s David Gower) disappeared off the face of the planet not long after. The very definition of one season manager wonder in some ways.

 

[EwanI Ted]

A very stupid tie from us. Three times we led Leverkesuen, and every time they equalised with goals that were entirely avoidable. Story of our season that year, no problem going forward but a complete disaster at the back. You can't help but wonder what could have been that season had we kept Stam instead of Blanc, not just in that game, but in the league as well.

 

[Ramshock]

Didnt Berba play for them in that match?

 

[FrankDrebin]

I'm going to watch the highlights one day and that Forlan shot will caress the back of the net.

 

[crossy1686]

This game upset and annoyed me immensely. I remember feeling like we were the masters of our own downfall due to certain players not being good enough or not showing up when it really mattered. Seem to remember Keane either getting sent off or having a shot cleared off the line/missing a very easy chance?

Leverkusen wanted it more than we did and we absolutely wilted, so disappointing.

 

[crossy1686]

Didnt Berba play for them in that match?

Berbatov, Ballack and Neuville if I remember correctly?

 

[crossy1686]

Whenever I’ve watched any games back that we’ve lost from 2001-04 ish I always come out thinking barthez cost us

West Ham and Deportivo immediately spring to mind

 

[FrankDrebin]

And Arsenal away.

 

[2 man midfield]

West Ham and Deportivo immediately spring to mind

I always remember the 6-5 with Madrid. He’s absolutely nowhere for about 3 of the goals.

 

[Hugh Jass]

Looking back we were unlucky in the CL in general. Fergie should really have one more, if not two.

Dortmund was another one i remember. Chance after chance.

Then we just happened to be in two finals against arguably the greatest side ever in Peps Barca.

If luck had gone our way we should have at the bare minimum one more CL.

 

[FrankDrebin]

I always remember the 6-5 with Madrid. He’s absolutely nowhere for about 3 of the goals.

I always felt Barthez could've done better with Ronaldo's effort outside the area. Seemed to take an age before it hit the back of the net.

 

[Champagne Football]

I was watching highlights of some past United matches and came across this match in 01-02 where we lost in sf to them on away goals. Although we were shakey defensively and that Leverkusen side were good but I feel (from the highlights) we should have progressed to the finals and played Madrid.

Now granted I was too young to be an avid football follower back then, so wanted to know the gravity of that loss back then. I know we weren't that great that season considering we finished 3rd but somehow I feel that was a missed opportunity to not face madrid in the finals and even beat them.

What do you guys think?

I used to have nightmares thinking about all the champions league clashes we should have won blindfolded against weaker teams, but utterly botched instead.

But then I realized we had our asses handed to us against Bayern in the final and still managed to win somehow. And we were extremely lucky to face a Chelsea team managed by an absolute nobody in Avram Grant instead of Jose Mourinho, who was in his prime and who had been sacked earlier that season. So these things even themselves out. Winning 2 Champions Leagues, with both squads loaded with kids that were turned into superstars, is no mean feat.

Then factor in that we were never a Real Madrid who can buy Zidane, Kaka and Ronaldo each summer, and that Fergie won 13 league titles, even though some seasons we had to endure stress as Fletcher, Rooney, Cristiano, Giggs, Gary Neville etc went painfully slow from frustrating teenager to world class warrior and you can accept that our trophy haul is very impressive and about right.

Wenger could never win one despite cherry picking the best that France has to offer for decades.

Mourinho could not win a CL at Chelsea despite 10 times more cash than anyone.

Pep is yet to win a CL at City despite being the greatest genius wizard phenomenon supposedly with a bottomless pit of cash.

 

[AshRK]

I used to have nightmares thinking about all the champions league clashes we should have won blindfolded against weaker teams, but utterly botched instead.

But then I realized we had our asses handed to us against Bayern in the final and still managed to win somehow. And we were extremely lucky to face a Chelsea team managed by an absolute nobody in Avram Grant instead of Jose Mourinho, who was in his prime and who had been sacked earlier that season. So these things even themselves out. Winning 2 Champions Leagues, with both squads loaded with kids that were turned into superstars, is no mean feat.

Then factor in that we were never a Real Madrid who can buy Zidane, Kaka and Ronaldo each summer, and that Fergie won 13 league titles, even though some seasons we had to endure stress as Fletcher, Rooney, Cristiano, Giggs, Gary Neville etc went painfully slow from frustrating teenager to world class warrior and you can accept that our trophy haul is very impressive and about right.

Wenger could never win one despite cherry picking the best that France has to offer for decades.

Mourinho could not win a CL at Chelsea despite 10 times more cash than anyone.

Pep is yet to win a CL at City despite being the greatest genius wizard phenomenon supposedly with a bottomless pit of cash.

I do agree you need a lot of luck to win the CL. But I still believe we should have won atleast one more or if not more.

 

[Red Daz]

Yeah Dortmund is the most painful to me , so many chances, I remember thinking after that game I’ll never see us win a title in Europe haha

 

[FrankDrebin]

The 05 CL campaign was comfortably the most depressing period I've watched United under SAF. We looked miles away from European success.

 

[Champagne Football]

I do agree you need a lot of luck to win the CL. But I still believe we should have won atleast one more or if not more.

No doubt. There were a few occasions where we came within a whisker of signing a player who may have been the difference between a CL semi final and a CL trophy. Shearer, Viera, Essien, 18 year old Bale spring to mind.

 

[Ludens the Red]

Whenever I’ve watched any games back that we’ve lost from 2001-04 ish I always come out thinking barthez cost us

Yup haha, especially that 01-02 season. Costly mistakes or people chipping or putting bullets past him all the time.
He actually gets off quite lightly with United fans considering he was a disaster of a keeper.

 

[2 man midfield]

I always felt Barthez could've done better with Ronaldo's effort outside the area. Seemed to take an age before it hit the back of the net.

Yeah that one, Figo’s in the first leg and one more I can’t remember. He just got nowhere near any of them.

 

[AshRK]

The 05 CL campaign was comfortably the most depressing period I've watched United under SAF. We looked miles away from European success.

Yes. We looked so toothless against that Milan side losing both leg 1-0 without even trying. That was one of the most uninspiring performances in a big game under sir alex.

 

[izec]

Very frustrating that. Thought we should have beaten them. That Leverkusen tie, Porto and Bayern under van Gaal were just painful, because we bottled it in a way and were far superior. One or two more CL wins were easily obtainable, but it is how it is.

 

[2 man midfield]

Yup haha, especially that 01-02 season. Costly mistakes or people chipping or putting bullets past him all the time.
He actually gets off quite lightly with United fans considering he was a disaster of a keeper.

Yeah he was dreadful. I really think if we’d signed Edwin in 1999 we’d have another champions league. Barthez cost us constantly, Howard cost us against Porto, Carroll cost us against Milan the year after, not to mention the Taibi and Bosnich years. So many feck ups.

 

[GifLord]

Whenever I’ve watched any games back that we’ve lost from 2001-04 ish I always come out thinking barthez cost us

Not just Barthez the whole back four was horrendous at times. Silvestre, Blanc and Brown looked like Keystone Kops at times

 

[AshRK]

Very frustrating that. Thought we should have beaten them. That Leverkusen tie, Porto and Bayern under van Gaal were just painful, because we bottled it in a way and were far superior. One or two more CL wins were easily obtainable, but it is how it is.

We even crumbled against Madrid in 2013. We dominated them in both the legs. Their keeper was in a beast mode against us. We should have won in Madrid when Van persie missed an easy chance. And then the second leg at OT was a joke. We literally were so comfortable and then nani's red card happened. And then it was like we just collapsed.

 

[El Zoido]

I was at the first leg at OT, still remember it well. The atmosphere was tense, we made such a meal of that game, going ahead twice yet never feeling like we were going to win it. I remember leaving the stadium and it was so glum it was as if we were already out.

 

[FrankDrebin]

Very frustrating that. Thought we should have beaten them. That Leverkusen tie, Porto and Bayern under van Gaal were just painful, because we bottled it in a way and were far superior. One or two more CL wins were easily obtainable, but it is how it is.

I remember the Bayern game,managed by LVG, vividly. We were excellent in the 1st half in the home leg. Absolutely destroyed them.
As soon as Rafael went we capitulated. The character of the team just vanished and we were hanging on for our lives.
We seemed to lack steal and togetherness that was so evident in the 1st half.
Quite a bizarre match.

Yeah he was dreadful. I really think if we’d signed Edwin in 1999 we’d have another champions league. Barthez cost us constantly, Howard cost us against Porto, Carroll cost us against Milan the year after, not to mention the Taibi and Bosnich years. So many feck ups.

I always felt Howard was one of our most harshly treated Goalkeepers we had.
Barthez,Carroll were far more consistent with their blunders yet seemed to stay around longer than they should've in the first team.

Bosnich was a very good keeper. He performance away to Real Madrid at the Bernabeu was brilliant. Just a shame he was a lazy d*ck.

 

[Ludens the Red]

Yeah he was dreadful. I really think if we’d signed Edwin in 1999 we’d have another champions league. Barthez cost us constantly, Howard cost us against Porto, Carroll cost us against Milan the year after, not to mention the Taibi and Bosnich years. So many feck ups.

God, I completely forgot about Carroll spilling Seedoorfs shot
Yeah we had some rotten keepers those years.

 

[GifLord]

God, I completely forgot about Carroll spilling Seedoorfs shot
Yeah we had some rotten keepers those years.

Never forget this gem

What an absolute shit of a keeper he was

 

[Inigo Montoya]

Never forget this gem

What an absolute shit of a keeper he was

Thick as 6 short planks as well. Had the unfortunate experience of standing behind him while queuing for the cinema. Guys an idiot

 

[Striker10]

You can never say you'd absolutely win anything...though I think certainly the year Porto won it, that should have been our year. To have a legit goal chalked out. Sometimes fates like that. We've been extremely unlucky at times. If it's not bad officials it's been chances that we've not taken. Even Cantona has his nights in Europe where it just wouldn't go in. We've been VERY unlucky in many respects. Thanks for reminding us all ..