A costly gamble fails for Fergie

TO MAKE the travelling supporters from Germany feel welcome at Old Trafford, Manchester United opted to print a picture on the front cover of the programme featuring Bayern Munich players celebrating with the European Cup after defeating Saint Etienne in 1976.

There was also a snap of the Bundesliga giants celebrating with the same piece of silverware 25 years later after being crowned champions of Europe for a fourth time following a penalty shoot-out win over Valencia.

That was, for at least 50 minutes, where the pleasantries ceased and where the Wayne Rooney effect kicked in as United teased their supporters with a place in the semi-finals for the fourth successive season before Arjen Robben left Alex Ferguson’s season in tatters.