Most important match since 2008 Champions League Final

DSG · Jul 23, 2020

I mean... it's all on the line on Sunday.

Yes, we've won big trophies since then. In fact, every other trophy available to us, other than CL. But I can't shake the feeling that we are at an inflection point. All of the decisions (Ole), squad development strategy (young vs. old/established) and our future, is riding on Sunday's match.

Leicester will have 7 days rest. We will have three.

We have an injured LB, an exhausted starting 11, a calamitous keeper, and two, maybe three relatively trustworthy squad players (McT, Fred & Ighalo).

The biggest transfer target in the history of the club -- Sancho -- is watching this all play out, potentially influencing his final decision.

A club legend but an unproven manager, who won big matches for the club as a player, his future is potentially at stake.

The board will be watching, deciding the direction of the club, the transfer kitty....

In the middle of a pandemic and an economic depression, before potentially the most important political election in 100 years.

God, I hate 2020.

Riz · Jul 23, 2020

It’s a big game for Ole and the boys, huge.

But let’s be honest it’s nowhere near the magnitude of the 2009 CL final. Would have been the first side to defend the CL since it’s rebranding.

We could lose on Sunday and win the Europa which wouldn’t change much in the grand scheme of things.

Offside · Jul 23, 2020

We said this about the 2017 Europa League final and here we are again scrapping to even qualify. Complete garbage.

The biggest match since the 2008 Champions League final was the 2009 then 2011 Champions League final and then the biggest match after that will be our next Champions League final.

BluesJr · Jul 23, 2020

This is over the top to put it mildly.

AshRK · Jul 23, 2020

Wouldn't call it the biggest but very important for sure. Win and we might get the likes of Sancho and Ole will get to work with better quality and build on it.

Siorac · Jul 23, 2020

I hate this trend where every match is the most important of all time, every signing is potentially the biggest ever, and every single event is a historic turning point.

It's just a game of football. Yeah, missing out on the CL would suck but that won't be certain until we get knocked out of the EL as well. And even if we finish 5th and fail in the EL, life and football will go on.

Mcking · Jul 23, 2020

Hyperbole. But a lot rests on the game indeed.

kopviolator · Jul 23, 2020

Yeah, a bit dramatic. But surely important.

Billy Jim · Jul 23, 2020

What about the 2009 final? And the 2011 one? And that game at Upton Park in 2016? And the FA Cup final in 2016? And the 2017 Europa final?

amolbhatia50k · Jul 23, 2020

It's definitely important but I think there's a tendancy to go overboard. It's enticing to believe that getting top 4th will build on the momentum since January 2020 which will soon see us become title challengers and all that. But it's as likely, that Ole doesn't turn it out to be that top manager we need and next season isn't that as stellar as we all want it to be. Hopefully it is of course and we see more of the football we've seen before the last 2 games, but I think regardless, we have tons of work to do and to prove to get where we needed. But is a huge game without doubt.

Josh 76 · Jul 23, 2020

Biggest match in Clubs history!!!

amolbhatia50k · Jul 23, 2020

Wait we've won the league multiple times since 2008! Those were far more important moments surely? If your entire plan hinges on ONE game , then you're plan wasn't that good to begin with. Liverpool lost the CL and responded becuase Klopp genuinely did a good job. That's what our manager and players have to do, although of course they should also be expected to get 4th as a bare minimum this season.

Ronaldo's ego · Jul 23, 2020

Billy Jim said:
What about the 2009 final? And the 2011 one? And that game at Upton Park in 2016? And the FA Cup final in 2016? And the 2017 Europa final?

We’re all about finishing in the top four now, forget about actual finals where trophies can be won. We’ve become exactly what we used to tear Arsenal apart for. Embarrassing to say the least.

FrankDrebin · Jul 23, 2020

Dramatic but its certainly Ole's biggest managerial match for United.

Matriac · Jul 23, 2020

Considering that we can lose this match and still get CL next season if other results go our way I would hardly proclaim this match to be sooo important.

el3mel · Jul 23, 2020

Hyperbole. It's definitely not.

There were far more important matches since then.

Nickelodeon · Jul 23, 2020

Since Fergie, I could hardly pick another match when I was so nervous. In terms of what's on the line, I think this is our biggest game since Fergie (joint with EL final 2017).

Avoid defeat, then CL qualification is a clear proof that the rebuild is working. If we don't, the scars of choking at critical moments for 2 consecutive seasons could have a lasting impact on the squad as well as the manager's future.

Adam-Utd · Jul 23, 2020

Tbf I think I trust us to get it done more against a better team than a team "below us".

We never seem to beat the smaller teams when it matters.

RedDevil@84 · Jul 23, 2020

Hyperbole much

Schmeichel's Cartwheel · Jul 23, 2020

Pretty sure the 2009 & 2011 champions league finals were bigger chief.

El Zoido · Jul 23, 2020

This is so OOT. To be honest, even if we miss out on CL next season, I’m confident we’ll qualify for it the season after. Lost money is the biggest factor but we’re big enough to overcome it. And playing in the EL again would be annoying (but could be used to give the second string players extra minutes). I think this project is enticing enough that it won’t even affect incoming transfers, and fans are massively overstating the importance of Champions Leagur football next year. It’s not the end of the world if we don’t qualify, but of course would be great if we’re in it.

sewey89 · Jul 23, 2020

I don't know about since the 2008 final.

I think it's certainly our most important game since the West Ham game in July 2020.

DSG · Jul 23, 2020

Riz said:
It’s a big game for Ole and the boys, huge.

But let’s be honest it’s nowhere near the magnitude of the 2009 CL final. Would have been the first side to defend the CL since it’s rebranding.

We could lose on Sunday and win the Europa which wouldn’t change much in the grand scheme of things.

Siorac said:
I hate this trend where every match is the most important of all time, every signing is potentially the biggest ever, and every single event is a historic turning point.

It's just a game of football. Yeah, missing out on the CL would suck but that won't be certain until we get knocked out of the EL as well. And even if we finish 5th and fail in the EL, life and football will go on.

Nickelodeon said:
Since Fergie, I could hardly pick another match when I was so nervous. In terms of what's on the line, I think this is our biggest game since Fergie (joint with EL final 2017).

Avoid defeat, then CL qualification is a clear proof that the rebuild is working. If we don't, the scars of choking at critical moments for 2 consecutive seasons could have a lasting impact on the squad as well as the manager's future.

Schmeichel's Cartwheel said:
Pretty sure the 2009 & 2011 champions league finals were bigger chief.

I mean, it's all about context. And subjective.

2008 CL final was really big for me because I felt a win would mean SAF would go down as the greatest manager of all time. The 2009 and 11 finals were also huge matches, but tbh I never felt we would beat prime Messi and Barcelona. But SAF's legacy was already assured in those finals, and it wasn't like we were rebuilding the club. It just emphasized our (SAF's) excellence.

For the 2013 league title, we won by 11 points, were the best team by miles and RVP was delightful. Never had a doubt that year.

The EL win was fantastic, but we had Zlatan, Pogba, Jose and it seemed we were already on our way. Also, I'd rather win the league over EL.

el3mel · Jul 23, 2020

DSG said:
I mean, it's all about context. And subjective.

2008 CL final was really big for me because I felt a win would mean SAF would go down as the greatest manager of all time. The 2009 and 11 finals were also huge matches, but tbh I never felt we would beat prime Messi and Barcelona. But SAF's legacy was already assured in those finals, and it wasn't like we were rebuilding the club. It just emphasized our (SAF's) excellence.

For the 2013 league title, we won by 11 points, were the best team by miles and RVP was delightful. Never had a doubt that year.

The EL win was fantastic, but we had Zlatan, Pogba, Jose and it seemed we were already on our way. Also, I'd rather win the league over EL.

European finals and league titles securing matches are much more important than a securing top 4 match mate. We're Manchester United, not Leicester City.

Green_Red · Jul 23, 2020

Most important game since EVER!!!!! OMG!!! SHIT THE BED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jim Beam · Jul 23, 2020

Really, just to qualify for CL? Not to win it, challenge for it, but enter that competition? Don't think there is even much on the line tbf. Ole will stay regardless, Sancho coming also doesn't depend on it imo, and the direction will stay the same whatever happens. A bit of a financial hit and that's pretty much it.

It is an important match in the context of this season, sure, but because of the above mentioned am already more interested in the upcoming one then what happens on Sunday. If we turn out with shit results (again), whether we are in CL or not, will not make one bit of difference. We might go into another rebuild. Ole's and this team future is all about next season.

Henrik Larsson · Jul 23, 2020

It's not that dramatic when I start thinking about it. When has a team that played in the Europa League/Uefa Cup at the start of the season ever won or even really challenged for the Premier League?

From my memory it's always the teams that follow the Tuesday/Wednesday CL schedule or the teams that are completely out of Europe that seem to be able to get into a rhythm that leads to a really good push to potentially win the league.

So no qualification for the CL basically almost guarantees there will be no title challenge next year. Weird to see people think that's not that big of a deal. And on top of that, missing out on the money that comes with CL football has in fact really hurt us over the last years already.

If we do make top 4 this weekend on the other hand, it could be the catalyst to a nice next couple of years with the right investments, because this squad really has serious potential.

Relevated · Jul 23, 2020

What difference did it make when we finished 2nd with mourinho? It won't make a difference. Its what we do in the summer that will be really matter and of course this will help but its not as if the fate of our club is resting on it.

As Liverpool fans used to say, next year is our year :lol:

Remember the geese · Jul 23, 2020

Ole's first real test

Amir · Jul 23, 2020

AshRK said:
Wouldn't call it the biggest but very important for sure. Win and we might get the likes of Sancho and Ole will get to work with better quality and build on it.

That makes it a very important match in Solskjaer's career. Not for Manchester United.

Rolaholic · Jul 23, 2020

Hyperbole much :lol:

Infra-red · Jul 23, 2020

It's obviously a massive game. Defeat might deal Ole's "project" a fatal blow and, from a financial perspective, sets the club back significantly (which in turn obviously has ramifications for what we can/cannot do this summer eg Sancho).

That being said, it doesn't really compare to a Champions League final, and we've been in two of those since 2008!

Andycoleno9 · Jul 23, 2020

Final of EL was far more important. Trophy which we never won, missing CL for two years in a row, no backup plan. All in one match.

Despite some think differently (

) there is no trophy for 4th spot. I will not celebrate and kill myself in beer because we finished 4th. In fact it is just bare minimum what United should do. And most important thing; we have backup plan if we lose against Leicester. Europa league.

Mihai · Jul 23, 2020

Andycoleno9 said:
Final of EL was far more important. Trophy which we never won, missing CL for two years in a row, no backup plan. All in one match.

Despite some think differently ( ) there is no trophy for 4th spot. I will not celebrate and kill myself in beer because we finished 4th. In fact it is just bare minimum what United should do. And most important thing; we have backup plan if we lose against Leicester. Europa league.

Agree with this. That final was much more make-or-break than this game.

Heardy · Jul 23, 2020

Billy Jim said:
What about the 2009 final? And the 2011 one? And that game at Upton Park in 2016? And the FA Cup final in 2016? And the 2017 Europa final?

Exactly!! There's a lot riding on it but come on!

ghagua · Jul 23, 2020

It's going to be a huge game. So much depends on qualifying for the champions league. Our sponsor money from Adidas plus future transfers.

el3mel · Jul 23, 2020

Andycoleno9 said:
Final of EL was far more important. Trophy which we never won, missing CL for two years in a row, no backup plan. All in one match.

Despite some think differently ( ) there is no trophy for 4th spot. I will not celebrate and kill myself in beer because we finished 4th. In fact it is just bare minimum what United should do. And most important thing; we have backup plan if we lose against Leicester. Europa league.

This is another good aspect, as even on missing top 4 in this, we still have EL to play and qualify to CL through, more reasons to think this thread is just so hyperbole.

Gator Nate · Jul 23, 2020

No doubt, a win or draw here would be nice, but it's not the end all, be all. Even if we lose, if Wolves beat Chelsea, we're in. And Wolves need that win massively. And even if we lose and Chelsea doesn't, we have the EL remaining as a chance to qualify for CL.

LoneStar · Jul 23, 2020

Wow, we are well and truly Arsenal now. Depressing stuff.

I mean, even arsenal have probably never said that it’s their most important game to get to top 4 though. Would not look out of place on a Wolves, Sheffield United or Spurs forum.

RedDevil@84 · Jul 23, 2020

Are we playing in the Emirates cup as well

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