‘It’s a defining moment that shaped the club’

Manchester United team-mates Matthijs de Ligt and Christian Eriksen have visited the Old Trafford museum to learn more about the Munich Air Disaster.

Commemorations for the darkest day in our history take place every year as we continue to pay respects to the 23 people who were killed, including eight players and three staff members. At Old Trafford last Sunday, head coach Ruben Amorim laid a wreath at pitchside, our players wore black armbands, and a surfer banner was carried across the Stretford End in tribute. Memorial services will take place at Old Trafford and at Manchesterplatz on Thursday.

The 1958 tragedy denied a young, vibrant United team from fulfilling its potential in the cruellest of ways. It also created a wave of sympathy that played a huge part in making us a club of global interest. As did our ability to rise again, with Matt Busby’s Reds famously winning the European Cup 10 years later.

Reds moved by the story of Munich Video

Reds moved by the story of Munich

Matthijs de Ligt & Christian Eriksen tour the Old Trafford museum, learning more details about the Munich Air Disaster…

Ahead of the 67th anniversary being marked on Thursday, senior players De Ligt and Eriksen spent time with club historian Jason Leach in the Museum’s Munich exhibition, to explore the importance of those fateful events. 

They also studied artefacts from the exhibition and, whether looking at Duncan Edwards’ England shirt, listening to the history of United’s competition-record five successive FA Youth Cups or reading the famous edition of United Review for the post-crash visit of Sheffield Wednesday, both members of Amorim’s squad were engrossed in the details.

We encourage all our fans to watch the video above.

A BOND BETWEEN UNITED AND BAYERN

As De Ligt explained in the Museum, he feels a personal connection to the disaster after spending two seasons with Bayern Munich, the German giants who continually contribute to our fans’ annual memorial service at the side of the crash in Manchesterplatz. 

“It does have an impact on me and especially because I’ve played in Munich for the last two years,” said Matthijs, clearly moved by the exhibition. “I am quite interested, for example, to see where the crash was. It’s a really big and defining moment in the history of United. It’s obviously a horrible moment but it also shaped the club, I think, so it’s something really big for this club.

Matthijs de Ligt says

“Every year the United fans and Bayern fans come together to remember this horrible moment. I think it’s quite special that they’re still doing that, that they still keep these players and people in mind.”

“Every year the United fans and Bayern fans come together to remember this horrible moment. I think it’s quite special that they’re still doing that, that they still keep these players and people in mind. It’s really important and really nice that these two clubs bond together to keep this memory in the heads of the people. I think it still makes a big impression to everybody that the people are still remembering them so fondly. It was a big moment in the history of the club, unfortunately not a happy moment but definitely a big moment.”

Christian Eriksen says

“I think it goes with the badge. Whatever happened at the crash belongs to the badge of the club.”

PART OF THE UNITED DNA

Though shaken to its core back on 6 February 1958, United’s reaction to Munich, rather than the disaster itself, became the true essence of the club. 

From its early manifestations in simply getting back out on the pitch within a fortnight of the crash, to completing the European Cup quest a decade later, to the endless comebacks and late winners of more modern times, United’s unbreakable spirit was forged in Munich.

As Christian put it: “It’s special when you play here. Obviously, we’ve heard about it [Munich] a few times, seen clips and had a few talks about it. It’s a special moment and it’s nice that people keep remembering the people who were there, the many who were involved and the survivors, but it’s a special thing to be a part of the club. Afterwards, the turnaround, what the club was and what it became afterwards, is special. It helps the history and the tradition of the club.”

Some 67 years may have passed since that devastating chapter in United’s history, but the continued appetite of the club and its players to honour and remember the events of Munich mean that the indefatigable spirit of Sir Matt Busby, Jimmy Murphy and company will live on within the walls of Old Trafford and the badge on the United shirt.

We will never forget:

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