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Journalism of Courage
When Manchester United mark their 50 years in European competition with a celebration match against a select European XI on Tuesday, the occasion will mix images of an historic past and a likely glittering future.
United became the first English team to play in the European Cup in 1956 and since then the competition has left an indelible mark on the club, through triumph and tragedy. Both are indelibly woven into the fabric of the club, and the fabric of European soccer.
Tragedy preceded triumph with the 1958 Munich Air disaster costing the lives of 23 players and officials including eight members of the Busby Babes, the young team created by manager Matt Busby which had won the English title in 1956 and 1957 and seemed destined for greatness.
Ten years later, Busby saw his dreams of European glory fulfilled when a side containing Munich survivors Bobby Charlton and Bill Foulkes and the mercurial George Best, beat Benfica 4-1 after extra time at Wembley to lift the European Cup for the first time.
Only one more European Cup has followed, in 1999, but United are now established as a giant of the world and European game, a lasting testament to Busby’s vision.
Charlton says Busby defied the English FA, unlike Chelsea a year earlier, to take United into Europe because he knew they had to prove themselves among the best.
He and manager Alex Ferguson both admit that United should have won the competition more often.
Having qualified for the quarter finals this season for the first time in four years, Charlton believes a third success is possible with a squad including the talents of Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo —- “potentially one of the great, great players,” according to Charlton.
“We have a really good side and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t think we have as good a chance of winning the European Cup as anybody,” he said.
United’s current crop of European challengers will be on show on Tuesday with Alex Ferguson picking a full-strength side for the jubilee match, which also marks 50 years since the signing of the Treaty of Rome, paving the way for the formation of modern Europe.
–Pete oliver
