GLORY GLORY MAN UNITED

If Manchester United were looking for
inspiration to reach the Champions
League quarter-finals, they must have turned
back the clock to almost 30 years to the
day.
On 21 March 1984, the Manchester night sky
was gloomy, and the outlook for the hosts
equally dreary.
The Red Devils were hosting Spanish giants
Barcelona in the second leg of their Cup
Winners' Cup quarter-final, with a
vociferous home crowd hopefully optimistic -
rather than expectant - of overturning a 2-0
deficit.
"We knew we had a mountain to climb,"
then-United boss Ron Atkinson tells BBC
Sport.
But, against a Barca team built around the
irrepressible Diego Maradona - widely
acclaimed as the world's best player - and
mercurial West Germany midfielder Bernd
Schuster, Atkinson's side upset the lengthy
odds.
On Wednesday, Old Trafford was packed
to the rafters for another crucial European
tie. David Moyes's much-maligned side need
to turn around a humbling 2-0 first-leg
defeat by Greek champions Olympiakos to
reach the last eight.

No Red Devils side has managed to nullify a
two-goal deficit on the European stage
since the famous win against Barcelona.
Then, many observers had given United little
hope of rescuing the tie. A last-minute
strike from home winger Juan Carlos Rojo,
added to Scottish defender Graeme Hogg's
first-half own goal, put Barca in command
at the Nou Camp.
Ahead of the return fixture, Atkinson told
his players to forget about the first leg,
concentrate on winning the Old Trafford
match and let the rest take care of itself.
"The first game wasn't a great game, we
didn't play particularly well but felt the
scoreline flattered Barcelona a little bit,"
says Atkinson, who managed United
between 1981 and 1986 before he was
replaced by Sir Alex Ferguson.
"They didn't cause us many problems but
scored the late second. They thought that
goal put the tie to bed.
'Noise like you have never heard'
"On the day of the game I always remember
United chairman Martin Edwards saying to
me: 'You will hear a noise inside Old
Trafford tonight like you have never heard in
your career,'" recalls Atkinson.
Backed by 58,350 noisy Mancunians, United
unsettled their illustrious opponents from
the first kick. Loud jeers and whistles from
the stands greeted every Catalan touch as a
flurry of red shirts surrounded the ball.
Northern Ireland forward Norman Whiteside
almost put United ahead when his 15th-
minute lob bounced off the top of the
crossbar after Barca goalkeeper Javier
Urruticoechea unconvincingly flapped at Ray
Wilkins's teasing right-wing cross.
Urruticoechea's indecision caused panic
among his defenders and provided impetus
to the home players. Barcelona grew edgy,
United grew in stature.
"That set the tone for the goalkeeper being
nervous," remembers Arthur Albiston,
United's left-back on the night.
As Barca wilted, United quickly took
advantage of the building pressure. Another
Wilkins delivery, this time from a left-wing
corner, caused consternation among the
visitors as United skipper Bryan Robson flung
himself at Whiteside's near-post flick to
head in.
Old Trafford erupted. The hosts dared to
dream.
'Captain Marvel' outshines Maradona
Barcelona managed to regain some
composure before the half-time break, but
were overwhelmed by the home side's
rampant start to the second period.
Inspired by box-to-box midfielder Robson,
United refused to let Barcelona settle on
the ball, forcing the visitors into more
errors.
"All the build up was about Maradona. But
it was the match which gave Bryan Robson
the world-class status he deserved," says
Manchester United Supporters Trust vice-
chairman Ian Stirling, who was stood on the
Old Trafford terraces.
Shortly after the restart, Robson pounced on
a rebound to net United's second in front of
a jubilant Stretford End.
Spain midfielder Victor Munoz panicked
under pressure, playing a dangerous back
pass towards a scrambling Urruticoechea,
who could then only parry Wilkins's stinging
shot, leaving Robson with an easy finish.
United were level in the tie - and knew
Barca were rocking.
Wilkins, wheeling his arms in motion while in
possession, urged his team-mates forward,
while Atkinson instructed them to "attack
but attack sensibly" from the touchline.
They needed less than a minute to grab the
third.
Robson sprayed an inch-perfect ball out to
the left touchline, where Scottish left-back
Albiston galloped forward.
"In Spain, Barcelona didn't have to defend
against crosses bombed into the box,"
Albiston told BBC Sport. "With the aerial
threat of Frank Stapleton, Norman Whiteside
and Bryan Robson, we knew if we got a
good ball into the box, then Barca would
struggle to cope."
Albiston delivered a teasing, deep cross
which the Spanish defence could not clear
as Whiteside headed back to strike partner
Stapleton.
Old Trafford held its collective breath.
Stapleton kept his cool.
The Republic of Ireland striker prodded in
the third and United led for the first time in
the tie.
United heartbreak if Barca score
"The problem we had then, in hindsight,
was we had another half-an-hour to hang
on knowing full well an away goal would
send us out," says Atkinson.
There were moments of concern, notably
when United substitute Mark Hughes - the
current Stoke City manager - bundled over a
Barca opponent inside his own penalty area.
"It was a stick-on penalty," concedes
Atkinson.
Italian referee Paolo Casarin waved away
Barca's protests and United survived to
claim a famous win.
Ecstatic home fans raced on to the pitch to
congratulate their heroes. Robson, who had
been linked with a move away from Old
Trafford to Italy's Serie A, was mobbed,
hugged and kissed, then carried shoulder-
high off the pitch by his adoring followers.
"Even to this day, players who played and
people in the stands - and Manchester
United have had many great nights - would
say, atmospherically, they have never known
a night like that," concludes Atkinson.
Whether David Moyes has sat his
underachieving players down in front of a
big screen to watch grainy highlights, we do
not know.
But Wayne Rooney might have taken inspiration from
Robson. Danny Welbeck should have been
encouraged by Wilkins. And Robin van Persie
did seek motivation from Stapleton.
"This is one of the great Old Trafford
nights. This is what European football is
about," gushed a proud Atkinson after the
final whistle.
Olympiakos were not Barcelona. Joel
Campbell would not lace Maradona's boots.
But still the Red Devils managed to overcome
the Greek champions and reach the
Champions League quarter-finals.
that was the manchester united were, the manchester united we are and the manchester united we will always be