Three years after having already crossed their paths in the group stage, Manchester United will once again move to the Young Boys of Bern on Tuesday (6:45 p.m.) at the opening of the Champions League season.
A good memory, this exercise?
Yes, because the Red Devils have not replayed the C1 since.
No, because they had no illusion in the quarter-finals against FC Barcelona (0-1, 3-0), after having miraculously eliminated PSG in the eighth (0-2, 1-3).
The last convincing campaign of the Mancuniens was in 2013-14, devastated by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals (1-1, 3-1).
An eternity whose only survivor is the Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea.
Manchester has since tried to reconnect with its glorious past.
And never seemed so close to walk the talk.
To discover
Champions League fixtures and results
“The team has to be mature if they want to win the Premier League and the Champions League. "
Cristiano Ronaldo
The signing of Raphaël Varane for € 40m from Real Madrid caused a stir.
One of the best defenders in the world, in the prime of life at 28, comes to remedy one of the weaknesses of the eleven-type Mancunian.
“
I think that when you win, you want to prove that it was not a fluke,
” judged the ambitious world champion when he arrived at the club.
Varane comes to form a formidable hinge with his new captain, Harry Maguire.
During his last coronation in C1 in 2008, Manchester could count on an iron duo with Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.
And also on a striker, a certain Cristiano Ronaldo.
SEE ALSO -
The legend of Raphaël Varane at Real Madrid (2011-2021)
It's a bit of the icing on the cake, as his future seemed sealed to Juventus against his will, one week before the end of the transfer window. However, with Ronaldo, Manchester United may have found the missing piece in this famous eleven-type: a pure goalscorer. What is not his compatriot Bruno Fernandes, in the oven and in the mill last season. Edinson Cavani (34), if he has rendered proud services, does not (or no longer) have the makings of a center-forward holder of a European top club. And above all, it does not have the aura of "CR7". “
The team has to be mature if they want to win the Premier League and the Champions League. We are on the right track,
”encouraged Ronaldo after a double for his“
comeback
”against Newcastle last Saturday (4-1).
Jadon Sancho, Red Devils X Factor
The Portuguese, top scorer and passer in the history of the Champions League, arrived with suitcases full of experience, like Varane.
"
He has so much experience, nothing disturbs him,
congratulated Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after the debut of Varane on the lawn of Wolverhampton (0-1).
He was confident in the dressing room before the game and during half-time.
A timely contribution for Aaron Wan-Bissaka (22), Marcus Rashford (22) or Mason Greenwood (18).
It would almost come to yawning in front of the big check of 85 M € signed by Manchester for Jadon Sancho, become a star in Dortmund. It must be said that the English winger's first four outings did not transcend Old Trafford. The air of the Champions League, this Tuesday, can only do him good. In Bern, it might be without Ronaldo, by the way. "
I have to manage his playing time
"Solskjaer warned at a press conference. On paper, Manchester is not perfect. De Gea does not reassure in the cages. A renowned right-back was hoped for. And we still have to find the formula in the middle with the placement of Paul Pogba. Manchester needs time. Just a little bit. Like Tuchel's Chelsea, appointed in London in January and European champion in May. There are plenty of recipes. It's up to the Red Devils to take the stove.