Sunday 19 April 2009

Manchester United's Wembley Jinx


As a Manchester United fan and a fan of a good old stat, it was quite easy to figure out that Manchester United aren't very good at putting the ball in the back of the net at the new Wembley. 

Question is, why?

In five visits to the new 'home of football' United have scored just once, against Chelsea in the Community Shield in 2007 (Finished 1-1, United winning 3-0 on penalties). 

But in their four other visits, against Chelsea (FA Cup Final - Lost 0-1), Portsmouth (Community Shield 2008 - Won 3-1 on penalties), Tottenham (League Cup Final - Drew 0-0 AET, won 4-1 on penalties) and in today's FA Cup Semi Final defeat to Everton (Finished 0-0 AET, Everton won 4-2 on penalties) they havent been able to register a single goal in any of those outtings. 

You would have thought that for a team littered with star studed players, that have played on the biggest stages all over the world, in the worlds biggest competitions, that playing at Wembley would be right up their street.

That philosophy may not have applied so much to the team that faced the Toffee's this afternoon, as Manchester United were far from full strength, but take nothing away from Everton, as you can only beat what's put in front of you. 

But why does a club the stature of Manchester United seem the falter under the pressure put on them of the new Wembley?

The problem with that is that there is no real answer, you can look at things like the state of the pitch, maybe something as simple as the big occasion being too much for the men in red?!

The state of the pitch has quite often been at the forefront of managers press conferences the days leading up to matches at Wembley, and Arsene Wenger was very quick to bemoan the state of the hallowed turf after his Arsenal side fell to defeat, in the other Semi Final, against Chelsea.

I don't want to sound bitter through that previous statement, so to make it fair, he did comment on it before the game also.  

By all accounts Manchester United have a decent record at Wembley, winning 3 times in 5 visits, but its the one goal scored that is a red light that will certainly be flashing in my mind the next time United step out at Wembley, which wont be on May 30th. 

For now though it's going to be an all blue final, and Im going to take this opportunity to wish both Everton and Chelsea good luck and hope that they can make it an FA Cup Final to remember. 

As for the question I've posed here, if there is anyone out there who has an idea as to why the Red Devils are scared of the Wembley nets, please, let me know. 

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