It seems the football Gods are trying to rub Manchester United's fans noses in it. On a day when we should have been looking forward to a Champions League knock out draw we instead are facing a trip in the Europa League to Danish side FC Midtjylland, formed in (of course) 1999.
While United were celebrating the treble of '99 FC Midtjylland were just an up and coming side. It perhaps shows how far Midtjylland have come or how far we have declined since then.
However today the draw was made, it made it all the more real of the fact that United are in the Europa League and however fans may feel about that or how they feel about the manager Louis Van Gaal, the time to support your team is now.
It is easy to support the team when they are riding high, winning the league and a major force in Europe. Jerseys are bought, flags are flying, insults and taunts are thrown at our friends who support less successful teams, who of course are enjoying the demise of United since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson. That is what football is about, rivalry, banter, pints, days away at games. These are why we love football and why most of us if we are honest hardly enjoy a match until it is over the nerves have gone and the result is in the bag and you can taunt your friends again if results have gone your way and not theirs.
Now is the time for United to get behind the team, you do not have to believe in the philosophy or the style, you may not like the way the manager fails to install belief and passion on the sidelines like Sir Alex did. Fact remains Sir Alex is gone, while he will never be forgotten due to his hugely successful period at United, the time is now to sort out the real fans from the plastic fans and if those who we gained in 1999 and are not up for the challenge United face at present they can go support whoever they followed pre '99.
United will be back and it will be interesting to see who remains with them, I'm sure many have already gone since Sir Alex departed. FC Midtjylland will come to Old Trafford in a couple of months time and we will have a chance of going further in the Europa League. The Champions League was not for us this year, but now we have two chances of claiming a place in next years draw and should we take one of them then we can consider the season's objective to be achieved and we can push on again. The season may not be going to plan or the style may not be popular, but it's times like these that make successes like 1999 all the more sweeter. Life as a football supporter cannot always be plain sailing. Manchester United will continue to be a huge club worldwide. This period will take some adjusting too. The time now is to stay United.
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