Manchester United 2-0 PAOK (UEFA Europa League Group Stages)
It feels like a very traditional autumnal English day today, not only is it raining outside, but Manchester United are playing in Europe tonight. The people's team of this nation it seems, are no longer Champions League fodder, instead reduced to Thursday night football in the Europa level 2 competition.
For as long as I've been alive United have mixed with the continents elite midweek, even before then, from the tragic events of Feb 6 1958, to winning at Wembley ten years later, I was yet to be born for the Busby Babes, but I do remember Mark Hughes two goals against Barcelona and that retro video game on my Commodore which encapsulated the 90s era, Manchester United in Europe.
Ever since, we've seen further Champions League final successes and near misses with Sir Alex and most recently, under Jose Mourinho, a Europa League win in 2017, but this team is going through change of late, and for now it's all about Ruud van Nistelrooy soon handing over the reigns to Ruben Amorim, as pain free as possible.
I won't discuss the ten Hag era and the recent failing past of underachievement but United are in transition, PAOK themselves much more stable having a Head Coach who has overseen the last three years, Romanian Razvan Lucescu has a superb win ratio at the club, one which finished as Greek champions for only the fourth time in their history last season, where they were quarter finalists of this competition too, this season they sit second in the Super League but have so far struggled in the Europa League losing to Galatasaray and FCSB before a draw with Viktoria Plzen.
I'm on the road for mid afternoon, once again across the A50 and up the M6, the traffic picking up at Middlewich before I link on to the M56 and M60, every time I'm in Manchester the congestion around here pains me, it's slow pickings as I drive trudging in the dark up the Chester Road in Stretford, before finally pulling up on a side street by a Greggs to park, south of the stadium for a clean exit later tonight, but still a good 25 minute walk.
The Venue
It's a good march up the A56, but there's only one way I think you should walk in towards Old Trafford Stadium. Past the Bishop Blaize pub and Lou Macari chippie and up Sir Matt Busby Way where the smell of burgers, onions and diesel engines of the catering trucks hit you, where scarves and brick-a-brac are being sold in the front yards of terraced houses, people congregating for photos as the huge cantilevered structure nears.
I'm through one set of security and am hovering around the Best, Charlton, Law statue as two plain clothes come up to me and introduce themselves in a friendly manner. A second bag check of the evening already. It's full of Greek fans who have congregated in masses, they're queuing to get in as I walk to the media entrance by the Munich Tunnel, my bag is searched again as a steward refuses to let me in, a call for UEFA is needed as my accreditation is provided and I'm free to walk through the concourse into the ground.
They say Old Trafford is falling apart. It feels a myth as I walk around the clean fresh feeling red painted bottom of the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand. I'm up to my seat in the press area, impressive, BBC Radio 5 Live recording in front of me as the army of PAOK fans inside the stadium chant in the deepest of tribal male voices. Not many women in the away end tonight.
My pew is perfect, set back on half way, slightly elevated to the pitch it feels wide angle almost video game like, I've a monitor in front of me showing TNT, the stadium named the Theatre of Dreams, it feels theatrical as I start to settle in for the show ahead.
I'm joined by a scout who was with me at Anfield, he's a Manchester boy and is hungry so is keen to find if we can get some food. We're told to head for the press lounge, which is straight through a tunnel, we pass the video conference room and a wall with every trophy that Manchester United have won emblazoned on it, before arriving at a self service kitchen where there's some Chinese food options of sticky chicken, noodles and egg fried rice to enjoy.
The Game
Back out in time for the players walking out, by now the stadium full, United in famous red and white, PAOK in a fetching black and white number which I really like the look of, it's a decent tempo start as attacks exchange ends, Diallo is busy down the right for United, Zivkovic looks to offer the away sides main threat down their right, he cuts in and has a couple of unsuccessful efforts, but other than some huffing and puffing, the first half is uneventful sparkled only by the back ground noise of the away support, they are loud, vocal, having a good time bouncing around and are really making themselves heard on what is their big day out.
At the whistle, my Mancunian mate is still hungry as he notices someone walk by us with a cake, so we go and explore the press room again, and although there's a queue, the wait is worth it. Gateaux, Brownies, Carrot Cake, Eclair, it's like Patisserie Valerie as we grab a plate and machine made coffee to take out with us, I've still half my carrot cake left as the action gets underway, and within five minutes of the restart, United take the lead.
The Score
Bruno Fernandes, who often takes some unfair criticism, is brilliant tonight, involved in everything he's the key to unlocking the best opportunities for United, he stands up a delightful ball to Diallo at the back post, he's the padlock that opens the floodgates, Amad rises to head back across goal a looping header into corner of the net and United's attacking persistence pays off.
That eases some tension around the place, it's 360 days since United won in Europe, but a chance at the other end is presented to Tissoudali, he's inside the six yard box with time and space to pick a corner, but fails miserably, scuffing his big chance as the relieved Onana holds on to the feeble attempt.
You feel PAOK will be made to pay and after Diallo goes close to making it two, he then pick pockets a defender before cutting inside a curling a beauty from the edge of the area, a good night for him, and it's good night Salonika.
The Stars
It's the first I've seen Amad Diallo live and he's hugely impressed me. A friend of mine who used to play for Manchester United regularly raves about him and from the early stages you could see he had that match day twinkle in his eye.
Within a few minutes he tried a Zidane style pirouette which got the crowd applauding, he looked to run at opponents from the off and shown remarkably fast feet, he was an irritant down the flank and got his rewards for working hard and being direct.
Other United standouts included Bruno Fernandes who is vital to how they currently play. I think the new Coach will have to find a way to get the best out of him and with similar backgrounds I think it could be a match made in heaven. Casemiro and Jonny Evans were too other players solid on the night, not quite over the hill just yet, they may have something to offer Amorim.
For PAOK their main threat Andrija Zivkovic was diminutive and direct cutting in on his left foot, a Serbian international who played previously for Benfica, Brazilian Taison on the left I expected more from, but a number two playing in a number ten position was Mady Camara who certainly caught the eye, technical and powerful he dropped into unmarkable pockets and a lot of the early play went through him.
PAOK have a star studded side, not playing was Dejan Lovren whilst on the bench was former Chelsea and Milan midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko, there was even a late cameo for former Manchester United Academy player Shola Shoretire who after getting a standing reception left one in on Casemiro to make his mark on his Old Trafford return.
The Verdict
United have one more game under the Ruud van Nistelrooy temporary stewardship, they'll be keen to impress the new regime and a new era beckons, but be careful, we have said that before.
For PAOK they may not seriously trouble Europe's elite, although they'll give it a good go, firm attention for them would be a second succesive Greek title this season, and to get that would be a dream, currently one point off top, they certainly have every chance.
The Teams
Manchester United: Andre Onana, Noussair Mazraoui, Victor Lindelof, Jonny Evans, Diogo Dalot (Lisandro Martinez 65), Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte (Christian Eriksen 65), Amad Diallo (Mason Mount 82), Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho (Marcus Rashford 65), Rasmus Hojlund (Joshua Zirkzee 89).
PAOK: Dominik Kotarski, Mady Camara (Kiril Despedov 75), Taison (Shola Shoretire 84), Andrija Zivkovic, Omar Colley, Tomasz Kedziora, Jonny Otto, Abdul Rahman Baba, Stefan Schwab (Tiemoue Bakayoko 65), Magomed Ozdoev, Tarik Tissoudali (Fedor Chalov 65).
8:00pm Kick Off. Thursday 7th November 2024, Old Trafford, Manchester (att 73,174).
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