News of Ben Foster’s retirement is a reminder the only place after United is not down. He had a really good career after he failed to hack it at United at the start of 2009-10 and that error-strewn spell was still peppered with some genuinely great saves (Chucho Benitez, Rodallega, Van Persie, Jenas).
He was comfortably a Premier League-level goalie for upwards of a decade and was man of the match in two League Cup finals with two different teams – United in 2009 and Birmingham in 2011. He receive a winners’ medal in 2010 as an unused substitute.
It’s just a shame Foster derided the green and gold campaign in 2010. “There’s maybe too much made of it by the supporters,” Foster said upon leaving United. They are obviously passionate about Manchester United, but sometimes they need to focus on supporting the club a bit more than getting carried away with the technicalities of who’s in charge.
Erik ten Hag has explained his decision to start Cristiano Ronaldo for Manchester United’s match against FC Sheriff.
United take on the Moldovan champions in the second group match of the new Europa League campaign on Thursday night. United were defeated by Real Sociedad in the Europa League last week and Ten Hag will be hoping for a response to that result.
The banners are out in force in the away end at the Zimbru Stadium. There are flags declaring allegiance to United from Salford, Wythenshawe, East Anglia and Norway. It’s a new trip for these United fans and the away day regulars on the continent have taken delight in ticking off a new country, a rarity for a club as storied in Europe as United.
United are partaking in shooting drills in front of one stand that is full of home support, but there are cheers going up every time the ball hits the back of the net. Vitek is doing his best goal and he’s just palmed a Ronaldo effort wide, which he enjoyed, even if the locals didn’t.
Sheriff 0-1 Manchester United
Goal Jadon Sancho. pic.twitter.com/wjbTD3mtsi
— Fast GøaIs. (@iF29s) September 15, 2022