by It is 30 years since Manchester United’s most famous trip to Istanbul to end the Champions League was on the line. Galatasaray created an unwelcoming hell Cerberus would have been proud of and a night of sin ended with Alex Ferguson’s side being knocked out of Europe.
Realistically, United needed a win to progress after drawing 3-3 in the first leg of the second leg at Old Trafford but the atmosphere in Turkey dampened the visitors and the second leg ended goalless. Eric Cantona was sent off late on because of his frustration with the referee and the home team’s addiction to time wasting. There was a post-match melee in the tunnel involving the United squad and the riot police as the tour ended as it began – with intimidation. Many of the United team were frozen and unable to cope with the fierce and loud atmosphere that faced them.
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Wednesday’s game is not a knockout game but in truth the situation is not much different. Defeat against Galatasaray would once again end United’s Champions League campaign prematurely and a win, assuming Copenhagen lose to Bayern Munich, would put qualification for the final stages back in their hands. United will have the same atmosphere as it did 30 years ago as the home fans know that victory would turn their next trip to Denmark into a potential hunt for those who go through with Bayern, to reach a club with United’s terrible history. but adding to the satisfaction.
In 1993 everyone at United was on a learning curve. This was their first return to Europe’s top table after a 24-year absence. Many of the team had won the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1990-91 but that was a clear step forward. They beat Honved before Cantona needed a late intervention to avoid a deficit heading to Istanbul, where they were greeted at the airport by a crowd of Galatasaray supporters providing a wall of noise and the famous “Welcome to Hell” banner.
“It was our first attempt in the Champions League and we were expected to go through,” says former United defender Gary Pallister, who was injured for the game and had to watch proceedings from the stands. “The hostility is something [to learn from] – I have not experienced anything like that in the rest of my career. You look at that and you think it can’t get any worse.”
Thirty years on United head to Turkey knowing they have rarely been assured in the Champions League in recent years. The last time they won a crunch was a 3-1 away win against Paris Saint-Germain in the 2018-19 round of 16 after losing the home game 2-0. In 2020-21, they lost their last two group games and were eliminated, while back in 2015-16, Wolfsburg won the decisive group game to knock United out.
When it comes to pressure in the Champions League of late, United don’t handle it well and there are few events more difficult than a night in Istanbul. Pallister smiled at the bell boy at the team hotel and got a finger across his throat in response, Brian McClair had a cleaner bang on his bedroom ceiling at night and other players received countless phone calls to disturb their sleep. The current squad could face the same level of misdirection and needs to be prepared.
United have learned little in recent times, repeating the same failures in Europe’s elite competition. It would not be a shame to lose against a good Galatasaray team, especially since Erik ten Hag is missing key players, but if the worst happens, everyone will have to come out of the experience stronger. Regardless of the result, it should be an educational night when it comes to the demands of the Champions League.
Six of the United squad that failed in 1993 went on to win the competition six years later. “He inspired us,” says Mike Phelan, who started in midfield 30 years ago. “Winning the Cup Winners’ Cup took us to another level and we felt quite comfortable with each other and we felt we could really develop as a team, and I think going into the Champions League was one of those moments where there was hope us to succeed – the experiences along the way have been great and taken us to the next level further down the line.
“I think it’s important that sometimes you have to go through those moments to get what it’s all about. There are elements that happen in a football game and elements that happen in the build up to a football game, so you have to experience all of those things if you want to be successful.”
The win against Everton on Sunday was defined by two teenagers, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo. Garnacho scored with an incredible free-kick and Mainoo impressed in his first full Premier League game, potentially giving him a start in Turkey and an education in European football.
Surrounding them are players who have made it through hostile nights. But if they thought Goodison Park was unwelcoming, they will be in for a surprise on Wednesday and will have to find collective coping mechanisms. They fail to do so and will just have to live and learn for the next time.
