The last (heartbreaking) Gdańsk.

Honestly, it has took me several days to find the words, or try to converse them as best as I possibly can.

Sometimes though, you just have to say it as it is. Truth be told, although the realisation is now perhaps not as painful as it was on Wednesday night, I would be lying if I said it didn’t break my heart. To not only lose the Europa League final, but the manner in which we said goodbye to a potential trophy too. Utterly devastating.

Admittedly, there are those who simply won’t understand how a game of football can evoke such emotion. How after everything that has happened over the past year or so hasn’t maybe taught us that there are more important matters in the world. And of course that is true. But in the same sense, 2020 onwards also made us appreciate the things we loved even more. And never ever take them for granted.

So, for all this to culminate together and ultimately lead to a chance at glory, with a number of fans present in person once again and those that stayed home sitting inside (shock) the pubs once more, it felt incredibly surreal to me. Something so simple now so much more special. And I sincerely believed this was Manchester United’s for the taking. It was ours to win. And we lost it.

How on earth do you explain to someone who hasn’t followed a club their whole life the emotional roller coaster you go on not only watching the game itself, but the pounding in your chest as each penalty taker steps up. It almost felt as if it was never going to end, but sadly it did. For us. After holding my breath for what felt like an eternity and eagerly trying to watch whilst partially covering my eyes. Villarreal came out on top after a mammoth shootout. Winning 11-10 on penalties after extra time finished at 1-1.

Even writing that stings somewhat, which is why I had to pause momentarilly before penning this piece. But do you know what? I genuinely haven’t heard a bad word about Villarreal or their fans. So first and foremost, I would like to wish them my sincere congratulations. Because you just know this means the absolute world and more to them. And in the midst of all the feelings I felt several nights ago, that wasn’t at the forefront. Whilst I am a sad loser, I’m not a sore loser so I just wanted to take the opportunity to say that.

Of course when all is said and done, the blame game begins. Whether it’s a coping mechanism, a deflection (pardon the pun) or just human nature for some, like clockwork you know it’s coming. There were those calling for the manager’s head in an instant. And others who made David De Gea out to be entirely responsible. Yes, it was him who missed the penalty. And more importantly who didn’t save a single one prior to this. But let’s be brutal here. It should never have come down to penalties. For me, the only players who really shown up for the final were Scott McTominay and our goalscorer Edinson Cavani. We simply weren’t good enough or a pleasure to watch either.

We were definitely still missing Harry Maguire in defence and I can’t even imagine how horrible it must have felt for him to sit and witness that and feel what we all felt. With the knowledge that he was helpless to do anything about it.

The elation we all experienced when Cavani scored would have been nothing compared to the moment that could have been and perhaps should have been. But a what if is now all that is. And just as Marcus Rashford said, second means nothing. Winning is everything. Especially when you play for or support Manchester United. Bruno Fernandes’ tears and the pain etched on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s face were a representation of us all.

22 years to the day the super sub himself reigned supreme as a player for this very club in a European competition, albeit a much more significant one than the Europa League, it all ended in tears. Literally.

So, what now? I honestly don’t know. I put so much faith into this moment after finally breaking that semi final block down that I really didn’t think too much of what was to come afterwards.

On a positive note, it is still looking very likely at present to have full stadiums come the start of next season. Which will hopefully make a strong and powerful impact on the players who have experienced these strange times with us, albeit from an entirely different angle.

Has there been progress this season? Yes. Has there been enough progress. Debatable. Will Ole use this pain and turn it into a unshakable determination to finally lift a trophy as the manager of the club he loves? Or is it just too much to ask? Only time will tell. And talking of those seconds that tick by so quickly, apart from where penalties come into play and it stands still (or even if you’re doing a plank), time is simply all we have. To reflect, to ponder what’s next and to hope that success isn’t too far away and that glory will only taste all the sweeter after the bitterness that result in Poland left in our mouths.

Goals. Celebrations. Idols. Youth players breaking through. Trophies. History. That’s all football. But however much we don’t like to dwell on it, so is failure, so is defeat and so are nights that won’t be remembered for the right reasons. Yes. That’s football too. And like Sir Alex Ferguson once said, it is in these moments champions are made. Which is why it must have meant absolutely everything to the goalkeeper when Fergie waited for David and put an arm around him. Resilience can be made in these moments to avoid the dejection our lads must be feeling right now in the future.

I guess now we can only wait and see what the summer brings. With signings, intrigue and all that is yet to be decided still up in the air. And please don’t forget, whilst we support and defend the club indefinitely without question and no matter what, those that have no place owning Manchester United are still around. Please don’t get distracted in the never ending story that is the rumour mill. And always remember the bigger picture.

It wasn’t to be our night. Late in May in 2021. But we must put one foot in front of the other and carry on. The United way and the only way we know how.

Photo credit: BT sport.

The final hurdle.

There was to be no last gasp shockers on the last day of the Premier League season.

Manchester City were already champions. Manchester United had already sealed second place. And if we’re being honest, at the forefront of our minds wasn’t the game away to Wolves at all. But what awaits in the very near future.

The Europa League final of course. Which happens to take place on the same date that our now manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer won the Champions League with us a player. Some 22 years later that is. Some things are surely meant to be and every path leads to another.

Talking of Ole and his management, it has to be mentioned that after today’s 2-1 win executed by some fearless youngsters and added experience in the form of Juan Mata (who I wish the best too if that was his farewell), we ended the season unbeaten away from home. Now, I’m well aware that some of the draws involved in that matter were frustrating, and that there are no awards or trophies for this either. But it is still no easy feat. And in a year with games played mostly in silence, with fans nowhere to be seen and circumstances none of us could have predicted, I’m extremely proud of this accolade indeed.

Having said that, there is still a way to go until we are not the second best team in Manchester (on the table at least) and in the league too. Having said that, there is no doubt in my mind that progress has been made. Man management seems to have been at the heart of a unity between the players I feel we haven’t seen so strong in years. And at times the need to mentally dig deep when we had some embarrassing results and simply couldn’t let that that culminate into the fixtures that lay ahead was vital.

There have been goals that were so deserving of a crowd along the way. And then there was Edinson Cavani’s at Old Trafford against Fulham in front of 10,000 fans who had been captivated at home by his tenacity in attack and then finally got to see it in person. And what a beautiful strike it was. If supporting United is a fairytale, then that was the happy ending after months of the unknown. And the equaliser we conceded is therefore the plot twist nobody asked for. But to be serious for a moment, defensively we are a massive worry. Especially with Harry Maguire out injured. Set pieces still seem to be our downfall and detrimental to some of the magnificent team play we have seen.

So while I have my concerns looking ahead and we can only ponder on what the summer will bring, in regards to whether Ole will be backed or even whether it’s possible with the current situation that we are hopefully seeing improving day by day, sometimes you just need to stop. For just a moment.

If the time period from 2020 onwards has taught me anything, it’s that no amount of regret can take away the past and no amount of worry or anxiety will alter the future or make it come any slower or faster. All we ever had and ever will have, is the present. Right here. Right now. And at this moment in time, when for many fans this is the closing chapter of their season, not only have we finished higher than many predicted, but more importantly, we have a chance of silverware. Some excitement is upon us.

And just as in life we are seeing doors opening again (quite literally in the sense that we can go inside pubs once more), here we are witnessing that from a football perspective too. I’m talking about fans back in the stadiums. Travelling to watch a final. The anticipation. Smiles on faces again. And perhaps the most beautiful thing of all. Hugs. And plenty of reasons to do so and embrace.

Now to some it may only be ‘just the Europa League’ and whilst I don’t deny we need to do better in the Champion’s League going forward where we should be, to the manager this could be his first trophy with the club he loves and supports as much as we do. To the players, this means everything. And to fans like myself, it could well be a bit of much needed celebrations after the lowest of lows. After all, there was a time football was put on pause entirely. Back then, I promised I wouldn’t take a single thing for granted again. So I definitely won’t here.

Here’s to Wednesday. Here’s to the future of Manchester United Football Club. Here’s to the continuation of protests against owners who aren’t worthy of our history or what is still yet to come either. Here’s to more magic moments like seeing Elanga score today. That is what it’s all about.

But more than anything, here is to today. This very moment. Every simple pleasure we have. The beauty of football itself. The feeling of finding home in your team. And life itself.

There would be no new beginnings without endings. And there would be no success without fight. For the present, breathe and enjoy what we have right now. Come on United!

Photo credit: Manchester United.

Power in unity.

There has been much said about the protests that took place outside Old Trafford yesterday. Many of which from those who weren’t there. So whilst I have a voice and a platform to share it on, I will use it to talk from the perspective of someone who was in attendance.

First and foremost, I don’t care who you support. Or even if you’re not a football fan. In life, no matter where you are, who you are with or what you are there for, there will always always be those who go too far. There will always be a minority who don’t represent the majority and unfortunately it is these who the media seem to pick up on more so than the purpose of the day itself.

I do not condone violence. On police officers just doing their job. Or from police officers either. Let’s keep it fair here. There are sadly videos and pictures from both sides and both are abhorrent and disgusting. And once again this proves my point that no matter who you are or your profession, there are always a small few who try to spoil it. But we must not let them!

Whichever way you look at it, and whether you see it as a positive or negative, thousands of Manchester United fans (representing millions around the world) yesterday halted possibly the biggest game in English football. Or if not absolutely the one with the biggest rivalry without doubt. The home game has now been postponed with players told to go home over safety fears.

Whilst I don’t agree with all the methods used, and while I wanted to watch the game as much as the next person, please don’t sit there and say we have to make our voices heard to make a real difference. And then sit at home on your computer or device complaining that it made worldwide news and physical change actually happen. If that isn’t what you wanted, fair play. Each to their own. But surely you can’t want to cause disruption to finally and hopefully evoke change and then be disappointed when this happens? In my opinion of course.

I stood in solidarity with reds. In their green and gold. Banners galore. Singing our hearts out and defending our club. We don’t hate United. We don’t want any of this to affect our players. We are simply using our right to protest and trust me when I say out of the huge turn out that was there, that is all we did. Legally so. And then there were the few who went astray. And when I say few, I mean I wasn’t even aware of the invasion or the few incidents that happened until afterwards. And I was there! All I seen with my own eyes was a family United in fighting to save our club and it’s legacy.

We all have our own opinions and way of doing things. Mine is to say what I mean and mean what I say. So when I tweet I want the Glazers out it’s not just for effect. If I can be there with my fellow supporters, I will be. With masks. And most of us in the open air. If that isn’t for you, then that is your prerogative. I can only say that watching the events occur on the television after coming home and actually being at Old Trafford felt like two entirely different days. Because I seen very little trouble. The most maybe a few comments and exchanged glances. This isn’t to say I am not denying what else occurred. Of course not. Or saying that it’s right. I’m simply explaining that it wasn’t all bad. Far from it in fact. And I’m extremely proud of all those who were there and doing it the right way. Making worldwide news in the process. Not bad considering we are just ‘the fans.’ I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Never underestimate us. They don’t call us an army for no reason.

I genuinely do look forward to when the game does commence. At the heart of it all I’m just a Manchester United fan. Like so many others. Who has seen far too much when it comes to the Glazers ownership. The European super league was a step too far. But this has been coming for years. We don’t just speak out now when we’re admittedly not at our most successful. We did it when we were winning in the Premier League and in Europe too. And one thing is for sure. We won’t stop now. Green and gold until the club is sold. In this together. For the love. Not for the glory.

You can absolutely support the meaning from yesterday and denounce those who used violence or law breaking. I particularly resonated with Jamie Carragher’s words on yesterday and thought he summed it up brilliantly.

This isn’t just a game to us or a stadium. It’s our home and our escapism.

To the Glazers… Our history wasn’t yours to take and our future isn’t yours to make. This isn’t the end. You may have the money but we always have the power.

I want to end on a high note. It is very much a part of me to show the positive in every negative situation. And to show that even on a bad day, or moment, there can always be good. So whilst there are many beautiful photos from the day showing the fans and Old Trafford in all it’s splendour, the image I’ll leave you with is of a man who cares. And when it comes down to it, we all do or we wouldn’t do the things we do would we? Here is to a better tomorrow on the pitch (players only) and off for us all!

In a world full of chaos, be this man!

Photo credit: Me!

Hit for six.

If you needed a representation of why fans jokingly call Manchester United second half FC, then look no further than the semi final first leg against Roma at Old Trafford.

We all held our breath and hoped that we could finally quash this so called semi curse that has plagued us in recent times. And being red, of course you keep believing until you really have no choice. It’s synonymous with supporting this beautiful yet bonkers club of ours. You can never give up until the final minutes. And it’s a good job too! Because whilst it was very difficult to do so here, it didn’t end up so bad.

At half time, I was gutted to see us not only be 2-1 down, but also worried with the thought of what those two away goals (both of which came from our own mistakes which were then capitalised on) could mean to our hopes progressing to the final.

Now, I don’t know what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said at half time to his players, but whatever it was clearly worked. There is coming back from what would have been a devastating defeat (however much we would have joked about this regular occurrence), and then there is well and truly having the last laugh and dancing all the way to doing so.

Once the final whistle blew at the theatre of dreams, it would all but seem that Roma’s hopes of getting to the Europa League final did too. Unless the mishap of all mishaps happens, it would appear we finally found the mentality to get past whatever it was stopping us from going all the way.

Yes. The scoreline read 6-2. And this isn’t the first time under Ole we have seen the likes of this. After all, it was only a matter of months ago Manchester United beat Southampton 9-0. And I won’t forget that in a hurry. But to get a win as big as this in a European semi final is nothing short of glorious! In fact, United are the first team to do such a feat and score six goals in a major European semi final since Real Madrid all the way back in 1964. Unbelievable! And fantastic to watch too. Admittedly mainly after the 45 minute mark (of course).

Make no mistake. This was very much a team effort. The big players turning up on a big occasion. And our young star boy himself Mason Greenwood coming on towards the latter stages to score himself and finish I style. Obviously. If he wants it and he gets the chance, you know 9 times out of 10 it’s going to go in. Be it on his right or left foot. Simply exquisite.

Prior to this, Paul Pogba also scored. It is a wonderful feeling to see him enjoying his football and wearing this shirt regardless of what the future holds. And I truly hope him and everyone else celebrating around the world, enjoyed breaking their fast following his brilliant display.

Then there was Edison Cavani with two goals, who quite easily could have bagged a hat trick. He is everything you want in a centre forward. Always in the right place at the right time. It’s such a shame we didn’t get our hands on him a few years earlier, although having said that, it’s the best news that we may well get to enjoy him as our very own for one more season. Meaning that he gets the Old Trafford reception he so deserves and we get to see him in all his glory in the flesh. Some things are meant to be.

Then there was Bruno Fernandes, who scored a penalty and cheekily tapped in a wonderful team effort too, which is weird for somebody who allegedly only scores from the spot. But a joy to watch all the same.

Now, all that stands between us and a trophy is respectfully finishing the job at Roma next week and then the small matter of the final. It won’t be easy. It never is with us. But what an end to the season it would be if Ole’s men could finally raise silverware and set the precedent for hopefully an even more victorious season to come in several months time. One of which can be felt and experienced by the fans if things continue as they are. Or at least to fight. For the title. For trophies. For the pride and for the future.

Talking of which, prior to tomorrow’s Premier league clash against our long term rivals Liverpool, the protest is very much going ahead. So, may I reiterate, support the team and defend the club. Fearlessly and respectfully. Keep safe, remember your masks and social distancing. No burning of flags. Just raise your United banners loud and proud and let’s keep pushing this Glazers Out message. Online, in person and every other way we can. And to those Liverpool fans who want the same as us, stand proud too. I still want to beat you though! Some things never change.

Somehow, I just can’t see results like a few days ago ever happening in what would have been the European super league. And I definitely wouldn’t hold my breath, cover my eyes or celebrate as much either. Which is why we love the game exactly as it is and also why we must stay united in raising our voices and fighting to keep it that way.

Protect the United way. Forever and for always.

Photo credit: Uefa.com