14 September 2001

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2001/02

By United Views Columnist - Stuart Sim

Spending almost £50 million on 3 players would normally make any team unstoppable. But this is the UEFA Champions League. United have spent peanuts compared to Juventus (£23 million on Buffon, £20 odd on Thuram, £15 million on Salas) and Real Madrid (£48 million on Zidane). But money doesnt guarantee success. Look at Barcelona. Last season's surprise package in the CL were Valencia and to a certain extent, Leeds. 

This season, I feel, is Manchester United's season. A bit like the 1998/99 season, I feel that the additions of Veron and Van Nistelrooy will be the catalysts for a glorious exit for Sir Alex.  It all fits in, the last game of his managerial career at United could be in his hometown of Glasgow, at Hampden Park, a ground which he got to know very well when he was in charge of Aberdeen. But this is all sentiment, and as we all know sentiment carries nothing on the football pitch. The players do the talking. 

Many pundits believe that the sale of Big Jaap will weaken an already dodgy defence, but personally Jaap wasnt the player he was before his injury and so £16million was good value. There are a number of "dangerous" teams to look out for in the CL this season. Nantes, PSV, Schalke, Dortmund, Mallorca and possibly even Dynamo Kiev are all potential banana skins for the likes of United. But just like at the start of the 1998/99 European Cup campaign, I just have a feeling that this will be a glorious finale for Sir Alex. I just hope i am right!!

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