Since Manchester United went out of The Champions League to Bayern Munchen last spring Old Trafford just hasn’t been the same. This club has had two decades of consecutive Champions League football and so the year without it has been particularly hard to swallow for the fans.
There was even a sense, earlier this season, that Manchester United could be heading for a longer term abyss as they struggled to find the spark that United fans had become so accustomed to under Sir Fergie.
Thankfully Manchester United made one decision which altered that terrible potential future. They realised early that David Moyes wasn’t the man for the job and replaced him with a seasoned connoisseur of the game.
Not only did Louis van Gaal know how to win games – he had been doing that all of his career – but his philosophy was aligned with the great traditions of Manchester United. It’s taken time and tried the patience of some. But now Manchester United are winning and winning in style again.
After such a turbulent two years, no one is taking anything for granted. But, on this current wave of form and fluidity, and with 9 points separating Manchester United from fifth placed Southampton with just 6 games to play, we can now safely assume that there won’t be any more Tumbleweed Tuesdays for Manchester United fans to endure next season. They are almost certain to be competing in The Champions League once more.
Manchester United are back at the top table of the European game and football is surely richer for it.
