UNITED LEGENDS WELCOME BARCELONA TO OT
CLUB NEWS
31/08/2017 09:30, Report by Adam Higgins
UNITED LEGENDS WELCOME BARCELONA TO OT
A host of football greats will return to the pitch once again this weekend as the Manchester United Legends prepare to welcome Barcelona for an exciting re-match at Old Trafford.
Here's everything you need to know about what should be a memorable day out this weekend...
SETTING THE SCENE
The veteran Reds lead the Catalan giants 3-1 after an entertaining match at the Nou Camp in June and will be looking to complete a famous victory in the second leg at the Theatre of Dreams on Saturday (kick-off 15:00 BST) whilst helping to raise vital funds for the Manchester United Foundation. Legends are Back 2017 follows the success of the 2013 and 2015 clashes against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich respectively, which jointly raised over £1.8 million for Manchester United Foundation.
The veteran Reds lead the Catalan giants 3-1 after an entertaining match at the Nou Camp in June and will be looking to complete a famous victory in the second leg at the Theatre of Dreams on Saturday (kick-off 15:00 BST) whilst helping to raise vital funds for the Manchester United Foundation. Legends are Back 2017 follows the success of the 2013 and 2015 clashes against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich respectively, which jointly raised over £1.8 million for Manchester United Foundation.
WHO WILL BE PLAYING?
Household names including Edwin van der Sar, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ronny Johnsen and Ji-Sung Park will lace up their boots to grace the hallowed turf once again for United - with Gaizka Mendieta, Patrick Kluivert, Luis Garcia and Edgar Davids among the star-studded cast lining up for the Spaniards.
Household names including Edwin van der Sar, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ronny Johnsen and Ji-Sung Park will lace up their boots to grace the hallowed turf once again for United - with Gaizka Mendieta, Patrick Kluivert, Luis Garcia and Edgar Davids among the star-studded cast lining up for the Spaniards.
OLD TRAFFORD ENTERTAINMENT
There will be lots of activities for all the family outside the ground from 10:30 BST on the day - including freestyle footballers, face painting, the chance to meet your favourite movie characters and football coaching - before British band The Vamps take to the stage to provide some live pre-match entertainmentinside the ground and Foundation project participants, dancers and drummers perform an eye-catching opening ceremony. The Foundation Youth Choir will perform at half-time and there will be the winners presentation on the pitch after the game.
There will be lots of activities for all the family outside the ground from 10:30 BST on the day - including freestyle footballers, face painting, the chance to meet your favourite movie characters and football coaching - before British band The Vamps take to the stage to provide some live pre-match entertainmentinside the ground and Foundation project participants, dancers and drummers perform an eye-catching opening ceremony. The Foundation Youth Choir will perform at half-time and there will be the winners presentation on the pitch after the game.
TEAMS TO COMMEMORATE ATTACKS
Both United and Barcelona will join together to commemorate the recent terror attacks in both cities during the Legends match. There will be a minute's silence before kick-off and both teams will wear black armbands as a mark of respect for the victims of the attacks in Manchester in May and Barcelona and Cambrils in August. The players will also have the names of their respective cities on the back of their shirts in place of their names.
Both United and Barcelona will join together to commemorate the recent terror attacks in both cities during the Legends match. There will be a minute's silence before kick-off and both teams will wear black armbands as a mark of respect for the victims of the attacks in Manchester in May and Barcelona and Cambrils in August. The players will also have the names of their respective cities on the back of their shirts in place of their names.
LAST TIME OUT
United hold the advantage in the two-legged affair after goals from Jesper Blomqvist, Karel Poborsky and captain Dwight Yorke gave the Reds a deserved victory over a Barcelona side containing stars such as Brazilian duo Ronaldinho and Rivaldo, who entertained the 50,000 fans in Catalonia with some outrageous skills.
THE MANAGERS
After Andy Ritchie was at the helm last time out, former club captain Bryan Robson will be back in the dugout as United Legends manager and he will be assisted by ex-Reds striker Andy Cole, while former Spain defender Albert Ferrer will take over the managerial reins from Jose Mari Bakero for the Spanish side.
United hold the advantage in the two-legged affair after goals from Jesper Blomqvist, Karel Poborsky and captain Dwight Yorke gave the Reds a deserved victory over a Barcelona side containing stars such as Brazilian duo Ronaldinho and Rivaldo, who entertained the 50,000 fans in Catalonia with some outrageous skills.
THE MANAGERS
After Andy Ritchie was at the helm last time out, former club captain Bryan Robson will be back in the dugout as United Legends manager and he will be assisted by ex-Reds striker Andy Cole, while former Spain defender Albert Ferrer will take over the managerial reins from Jose Mari Bakero for the Spanish side.
THE FULL SQUADS United: Russell Beardsmore, Jesper Blomqvist, Wes Brown, Andy Cole, Bojan Djordjic, Dion Dublin, Denis Irwin, Ronny Johnsen, Ji-sung Park, Karel Poborsky, Bryan Robson, Louis Saha, Mikael Silvestre, Ben Thornley, Raimond van der Gouw, Edwin van der Sar, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Danny Webber, Dwight Yorke.
Barcelona: Eric Abidal, Frederik Dehu, Luis Garcia, Xavi Guzman, Jesus Angoy, Gaizka Mendieta, Andoni Goicoetxea, Patrick Kluivert, Juan Carlos Moreno, Aloisio Pires, Juan Carlos Rodriguez, Simao Sabrosa, F.X. Sanchez Jara, Sergi Barjuan, Juliano Belletti, Jofre Mateu, Jose Edmilson, Edgar Davids.
HOW TO GET TICKETS:
The match will be shown live on MUTV in the UK and tickets can be purchased on the day at www.manutd.com/legendsareback. Prices start from £20 for adults and £5 for under-16s, with hospitality packages available from £125. All proceeds will go to United Foundation's work across Greater Manchester.
The match will be shown live on MUTV in the UK and tickets can be purchased on the day at www.manutd.com/legendsareback. Prices start from £20 for adults and £5 for under-16s, with hospitality packages available from £125. All proceeds will go to United Foundation's work across Greater Manchester.
IMPORTANT INFOPlease note, only small bags are allowed into the stadium. If you bring a bag larger than 20cm x 15cm x 5cm (8” x 6” x 2”), you will have to leave it at one of our ‘Bag Drop’ facilities which are located near the ticket office (N1 car park) and in E2 car park. Bringing a bag will further delay your entry to the stadium (and will delay your departure after the game if you have to use a 'Bag Drop') and we therefore encourage you not to bring any bags or prohibited items to the stadium (if you have to bring a bag larger than the size criteria, we recommend you arrive at least 2 hours before kick-off). For more information go to:www.manutd.com/safety. We would also like to make you aware that major roadworks have begun on key roads surrounding the stadium which will last for three years. This will increase your journey time to and from the stadium if you travel by car and could impact your route and street parking. For full details visit:www.manutd.com/gettinghere