Source: The Guardian Michael Carrick has accepted that Manchester United must pick up their faltering home European form if they are to progress against Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League â a competition they are "desperate" to win. United are playing in the second tier competition due to managing victory over only Otelul Galati at Old Trafford in the Champions League group stage. Sir Alex Ferguson's team play Bilbao on Thursday in Manchester in the first leg of the last-16 having lost 2-1 to Ajax in the second leg of the previous round to go through 3-2 on aggregate. Carrick said: "I'm not sure why our home form in Europe has not been so good. It's a tough one. We haven't quite performed on the night for whatever reason. Compared to recent years, when our home form has been formidable, it hasn't quite happened for us this year. "That's the reason why we're talking about the Europa League. The Ajax game was a bit of a disappointment but we got through. We can put that behind us and look forward. "Bilbao is a tough place to go. We need to perform well at home to give us a chance in the away leg. Most of the time in recent years we've tended to play the away leg first. That will be something different for us. It won't change our approach hugely but we know how tough it will be over there. It is renowned to be a very hostile environment. They have fanatical fans but it's something we're looking forward to." Carrick is adamant that United are intent on winning the competition. "It is still a European competition. It is one we are desperate to win. We have never really been part of it. Who knows when the chance to win it will come round again? We want to grasp it. As players and, as a club, we are determined to go far. ....................................................................................................................................... Great to see that the players are taking this competition seriously.
The timing of the games is pretty useful though - we have players coming back from injury and we can play them for at least part of these EL games to see if they are really ready for PL action.
Why is it pathetic? Every cup is a bonus as far as I am concerned. Otherwise apart from the CL all others are mickey mouse, are they not?
We are only in the Europa because we failed in the Champions League. I always thought it is wrong for teams who fail to qualify to the knock out stages to be parachuted into another competition like the Europa. It is not fair and I am not going to change my mind just because we are in it now. I think we should use only to blood our youngsters or giving the returning players some match practice. I'll be gutted if one of our key players got injured in the bl***y Europa. We don't need to win it and I won't be upset if we got kicked out. It is abit like the Carling. Good to blood your youngsters and reserves but no big deal if we are out.
I agree we shouldn't qualify for the Europa league by being knocked out of the champions league, but regardless that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to win it. If anything it gives the younger players experience playing weekdays. on the continent, like they would in the champions league.
Personally I see more into it than that UTD are known for being 'late starters', basically we tend to kick on after xmas I believe this is because the games are coming in thick and fast as we are fighting on all fronts I believe our players thrive on that, whenever they get a break (injury or otherwise) we tend to play badly. Some player more than others I think if we want to succeed in the EPL then we need to play the strongest team in the Europa (possibly using the likes of ando as subs to get back into it) The 20th is most important but Europa can play a big part in keeping players on form I understand more games can = more injuries, that is more reason to be involved on a lot of fronts. helps with the rotation
That too is a good point. The Europa League will help keep the squad fresh, imagine if Rooney got hurt and was going to miss a few PL games, and none of the other strikers got any matches for a few games and we'd have to rely on them to score goals while not being match sharp. Speaking of which, is Berbatov hurt? Or has he really fallen down the pecking order, he hasn't been on the bench for awhile.
The very reason why many opposition fans consider us all glory hunters is because of people like you who only care about the "big cups".
Don't think much of the accuracy of guardian reports. They're lying ****s. I am sure they'd like to give Fergie something he hasn't won. Yet another european trophy regardless of its worth compared to the CL, to be in it, and not be able to win it, thats more of an embarrasment than going in to it in the first place, I hope Evra realises that. United have to be able to win this 'Beneath Them' cup.
Ditto, this is pure arrogance from fistiansmith. He;s wrong of course. CL final, will have no English teams in it. EL could have been Spurs v United if spurs managed to get out of a group containing part timers. Fistian does not realise that after laughing at the quality of the EL for years and to then not win it when you are in it, wil be entirely embarrasing for a team that has had 3 recent CL finals. They must win it, if they are above such a competition this should be a victory and a cup Fergie has not got. Fistian is a gloryhunting plactic supporter
I don't buy this arguement that it will make the squad tired. We have generally always got to the latter stages of the Champions League, most of the squad have experienced playing 50+ games in a season, it shouldn't be any different I believe. In fact I can't remember many seasons when we have ever seemed burnt out towards the end of the season.
Not more plastic than you f*****g plastic supporter of the scousers. You obviously has nothing to say than to Come on here and spout your rubbish. You come here to try to wind people up. Go back to your board you fu****g c**t.
It is a fact that we are only in the Europa because we failed in the CL. I happen to believe that if you are out of a competition you are out. It was under pressure from the so called big clubs who still wanted the revenue that UEFA devised that awful inmy view device when you are kicked out of their premier competition you get to play in their second competition. Nonsense. It s like you are out of the FA cup you get to parachuted into the mickey mouse Carling Cup.
No one asked you to come on this board to write pure sh*t. So f**k off back to your board you ******.
