Terrace Talk: Manchester United - Swede dreams are made of this trip to Stockholm

Forgive me for gushing but, for once, I’m actually genuinely excited by something with the word ‘Europa’ in the title. From the ridiculous to the sublime in just three days flat; few journeys transport one as far as that which we’re about to take.

From a pointless humdrum final league match against a pointless humdrum club, to a glittering and vital final against one of THE glamour names in world football; we’re cleaning the dirty windows of the old Crystal Palace with the coruscating power of Ajax. (One for the oldsters, there; I’ll have some brillo Vim gags next time. “O, mo!” do I hear you wail?)

When Manchester United first played Ajax in September 1976, I really was literally still in short trousers. United were in the midst of nine games in 25 days, yet no-one whinged about it. It was our first European tie in over seven years — how unimaginable a hiatus must that seem to today’s spoiled yoof!