With domestic form steadily improving after opening day disappointment, Manchester United’s 2012/13 Champions League bid opens with a home game against old foes Galatasaray in Group H on Wednesday. The Reds have previously faced Turkish opposition 12 times in Europe’s premier club competition, with mixed results.
First up were Galatasaray in the infamous "Welcome to Hell" second-round tie in 1993. After a 3-3 draw at Old Trafford, Sir Alex’s men were knocked out on away goals following a 0-0 draw in Istanbul. The sides played out another stalemate at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium the following season, before the Reds finally recorded a win over the current Turkish champions when David Beckham scored his first senior goal in 4-0 home triumph.
Fenerbahce have also proved tough opponents, winning two of their four encounters with United. They became the first team to beat the Reds at Old Trafford in Europe in 1996, but were hammered 6-2 on their return in 2004, as 18 year old debutant Wayne Rooney hit a hat-trick.
Besiktas then snatched a 1-0 win in 2009 to end the Reds’ 24-game unbeaten home run in the competition. But Bursaspor provided no such surprise, with United claiming two comfortable victories in 2010.
Tuesday, 18 September 2012
Saturday, 1 September 2012
999 not out
Since arriving at Old Trafford on November 6th
1986, Sir Alex Ferguson has broken record after record in a dominant managerial
era.
Now the 70 year old is ready to take charge of his 1000th league game for the reds. In a phenomenal tally, Sir Alex has claimed 598 wins in his 999 league matches to date, with 233 draws and 168 defeats. That means a remarkable average of 2.03 points per game for almost 26 years. In that time, United have scored 1863 goals and conceded just 890, meaning a goal difference of 973.
Ferguson’s reign hasn’t always been so successful, however. He suffered his worst season with United in the 1989-90 campaign, where the reds slumped to 13th in the table, gaining just 1.26 points per game.
In contrast, 10 years later in the 1999-2000 season, Sir Alex experienced his most imperious league victory, as he watched his side cruise to the title with 91 points (2.39 per game), winning 28 of their 38 games and losing just 3, ratios Ferguson is yet to better.
Over the years, Sir Alex has watched his team perform many rampant displays. His biggest victory came on March 4th 1995, when new £7million signing Andy Cole hit 5 against Ipswich in a spectacular 9-0 win.
Ferguson’s biggest away win came at Nottingham Forest on 6th February 1999, after 4 late strikes from substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer steered United to a commanding 8-1 victory.
United’s most recent destruction act came in the first home game of last season, as Arsenal were hammered 8-2 thanks to a hat-trick from Wayne Rooney.
At the other end of the spectrum, United have also had their fair-share of beatings. Sir Alex’s biggest defeat as manager at the Theatre of Dreams came in October last term as arch rivals Manchester City ran riot en route to a 6-1 victory that most reds would like to quickly forget.
Sir Alex has also viewed two 5-0 away defeats in the league, to Newcastle in 1996 and to Chelsea in 1999.
Incidentally, Ferguson’s three largest defeats as United manager in the league have all come in the month of October.
Sir Alex has created a number of consistent United sides during his tenure which has led to 12 Premier League titles. Ferguson’s stars were particularly dominant in 2000 with 12 consecutive victories between March 11 and August 20. As well as winning games, United have also been hard to beat under the Scot, with two spells of 29 league games unbeaten (26/12/1998-25/09/1999 & 11/04/2010-01/02/2011).
Other Fergie Facts:
Most wins in a league season - 28: 1999/00, 2006/07, 2008/09 & 2011/12
Fewest defeats in a league season - 3: 1998–99 & 1999–2000
League Clean Sheets in a row - 14: 15/11/2008-18/02/2009
Most Premier League goals scored in a season - 97: 1999–2000
Fewest League goals conceded in a season - 22: 2007–08
1.86 goals per game
60% win percentage
Now the 70 year old is ready to take charge of his 1000th league game for the reds. In a phenomenal tally, Sir Alex has claimed 598 wins in his 999 league matches to date, with 233 draws and 168 defeats. That means a remarkable average of 2.03 points per game for almost 26 years. In that time, United have scored 1863 goals and conceded just 890, meaning a goal difference of 973.
Ferguson’s reign hasn’t always been so successful, however. He suffered his worst season with United in the 1989-90 campaign, where the reds slumped to 13th in the table, gaining just 1.26 points per game.
In contrast, 10 years later in the 1999-2000 season, Sir Alex experienced his most imperious league victory, as he watched his side cruise to the title with 91 points (2.39 per game), winning 28 of their 38 games and losing just 3, ratios Ferguson is yet to better.
Over the years, Sir Alex has watched his team perform many rampant displays. His biggest victory came on March 4th 1995, when new £7million signing Andy Cole hit 5 against Ipswich in a spectacular 9-0 win.
Ferguson’s biggest away win came at Nottingham Forest on 6th February 1999, after 4 late strikes from substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer steered United to a commanding 8-1 victory.
United’s most recent destruction act came in the first home game of last season, as Arsenal were hammered 8-2 thanks to a hat-trick from Wayne Rooney.
At the other end of the spectrum, United have also had their fair-share of beatings. Sir Alex’s biggest defeat as manager at the Theatre of Dreams came in October last term as arch rivals Manchester City ran riot en route to a 6-1 victory that most reds would like to quickly forget.
Sir Alex has also viewed two 5-0 away defeats in the league, to Newcastle in 1996 and to Chelsea in 1999.
Incidentally, Ferguson’s three largest defeats as United manager in the league have all come in the month of October.
Sir Alex has created a number of consistent United sides during his tenure which has led to 12 Premier League titles. Ferguson’s stars were particularly dominant in 2000 with 12 consecutive victories between March 11 and August 20. As well as winning games, United have also been hard to beat under the Scot, with two spells of 29 league games unbeaten (26/12/1998-25/09/1999 & 11/04/2010-01/02/2011).
Other Fergie Facts:
Most wins in a league season - 28: 1999/00, 2006/07, 2008/09 & 2011/12
Fewest defeats in a league season - 3: 1998–99 & 1999–2000
League Clean Sheets in a row - 14: 15/11/2008-18/02/2009
Most Premier League goals scored in a season - 97: 1999–2000
Fewest League goals conceded in a season - 22: 2007–08
1.86 goals per game
60% win percentage
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