Chapter 11: Born to Die
"The Munich air disaster is the most painful page in the history of Manchester United clubs, but no matter what the difficulties, the Red Devils will not die, never die!"
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Under Busby's helm, United grew and became stronger, with the team having an influence that spilled over the British Isles.
Legendary coach Busby has a high vision and a vision, not satisfied with the British Isles' football circle far away from the European continent, plotting to bring the team to the top clubs in Europe. After Manchester United won the league title, Busby decided to lead Manchester United to the European Club Champions Cup.
Busby said: "Manchester United are now the best team in England and we should also be the best team in Europe, this club deserves all the honours. ”
Busby also advised English football, "After Manchester United, other teams in England should also go to European competitions. We need to strengthen exchanges and competitions with various opponents, and only by constantly participating in the highest level of competition can our football maintain progress and allow fans to get better returns. ”
Busby's vision is so far-sighted that many people who stand still are ashamed.
In the 1956-1957 season, Busby led United through the FA's obstruction and reached the European Champions League. Manchester United opened the curtain for English clubs to participate in European football exchanges, and also opened the door to European competitions for English football clubs, which was a great breakthrough.
In short, there are many people in the English football team who are not happy to see Manchester United go to the European Champions Cup, but their various small moves of obstruction cannot extinguish the courage of Manchester United, and they also quickly lost before the torrent of the times. Manchester United made a stunning start to their first European Champions League, with the English king beating Belgian champions Anderlecht 10-0 in their first match, and the whole of Europe was shocked. United also won away from home with an easy 12-0 run, followed by a two-legged 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund to challenge La Liga powerhouse Athletic Bilbao to kill their opponents 6-5 in two legs and reach the semi-finals.
Reaching the semi-finals on their first appearance, United's prestige shook the whole of Europe. In the semi-finals, Manchester United regrettably lost to defending champions Real Madrid, ending the European Champions Cup.
This expedition allowed Manchester United to gain valuable European experience, but also let Europe be surprised to find this treasure team, Manchester United is full of youthful style, clean and sharp play, insist on attack and rapid attack and defense, quickly conquered many fans.
In the 1957–58 season, United continued to compete in the European Champions League. Busby's side first swept Shamlock Rovers 9-2 on aggregate, then eliminated Ducra Bragg 3-1 over two legs, then won 2-1 at home to Red Star Belgrade to draw 3-3 away to advance.
Everything went well, but no one expected an accident to come.
On the evening of 6 February 1958, Manchester United, who had just finished playing against Red Star Belgrade, flew back to England from Munich Airport. Due to bad weather and misjudgment of the pilot, the passenger plane carrying 43 people such as Manchester United club officials, coaches, players and reporters crashed during take-off, which was the "Munich Air Disaster" that shocked football. The crash killed 22 people, including eight players, three officials and eight journalists. The "Munich air disaster" caused Manchester United to suffer a devastating blow, the team's talent superstar Duncan Edwards was unfortunately killed, and seven players, including Tommy Taylor, Mark Jones, David Peg, Eddie Kerman, Roger Bourne, Billy Whelan and Jeff Bent, also died in the disaster. Busby was badly injured and on the verge of death several times, and finally recovered with tenacious fighting spirit; Bobby Charlton was also injured in the air crash, although he survived, he could not accept the reality, and the psychological trauma was enormous.
With tragic casualties, the club nearly destroyed, and the team facing bankruptcy and dissolution.
Manchester United are united in their determination not to succumb to the blows of fate and actively carry out self-help. Manchester United fans are also determined to stand with the team and go through the hardships together. The crash also shook world football, with many teams reaching out to help United get through the storm.
The disaster did not destroy Manchester United in the end, and the team full of fighting spirit was tenaciously reborn.
"The flag can never fall!" Busby still clutched the hands of assistant Murphy on the brink of life and death and said, "Manchester United's fighting spirit can never give up, we are Manchester United, Manchester United!" ”
As Busby struggled to recover, assistant Murphy took on the greatest responsibility and led United to a difficult rebuild. The team summoned the remaining players to prepare for training and issued an emergency summons order to recall players who had played in the past. The players couldn't shake the grief of losing their teammates, but they also had to start training and preparing. United were initially unable to scrape together enough players to play, but recruiting new players was quickly in place. On the 13th day after the crash, United ushered in the fifth round of the FA Cup against Sheffield Wednesday. Falx and Greg, who survived the Munich air crash, led two first-time first-team players, five reserve players and two newly signed players to the stage. Sheffield expressed condolences to Manchester United before the game on Wednesday, but the game was still a real gun, and Manchester United eventually won 3-0.
The European Champions Cup competition continued, and Manchester United, who also played until the semi-finals, relied on the temporary combination of teams, the first leg of the 2-1 victory over AC Milan, the away game was defeated by the opponent, Manchester United still stopped in the final four. In the league, United's remnants could not withstand the intensive schedule, and finally won only 1 win in the remaining matches, ranking 9th in the league, and could no longer defend the title.
Even so, United's bravery and tenacity have shocked the world.
Fans around the world are very sympathetic to the disaster suffered by Manchester United, but the world is even more impressed by Manchester United's tenacity and bravery. Manchester United have gone from an English team to a team that surpasses England, beyond Europe and even the world, and they have even transcended the football field, beyond the national, the racial and everything... Never being crushed by a disaster, never succumbing to difficulties, tenaciously starting over, sticking to your beliefs, working hard and getting the team back on track is Manchester United's action. Countless fans have been touched, and the softest places in everyone's heart have been touched.
"The red flag flies, and the spirit of Manchester United will never die!"
Busby continued to coach the team after recovering from injury, determined to complete the unfinished business to comfort the heroic soul who had passed away.
After the crash, United needed to pay huge compensation and the club was in financial trouble. But inspired by the spirit of Manchester United, the entire staff of the club is willing to accept temporary low-paid or even unpaid jobs, and fans have provided financial assistance. Many clubs have reached out, in addition to launching donations, they have also actively invited Manchester United to play friendly matches, giving the prize money and ticket income of the game to Manchester United... These supports and friendships from all over the world are always remembered by Manchester United.
Busby returned to Manchester United determined to rebuild the new team. In 1961, United signed george best, 15 years old. The young man from Belfast went on to become United's most famous legend, handsome, amazingly skilled, with all sorts of incredible skills and unpredictable rhythms, he had a quick and flexible running, extraordinary ball possession, superb shooting skills, and all kinds of strange ideas, so that opponents are always invincible. Busby carefully cultivated Best, allowing him to grow rapidly, and soon glowed and made fans fascinated. Best made his first appearance for United's first team in September 1963 and began his magnificent journey to conquer football. By August 1962, United had bought Dennis Law for a record £115,000 in English football, and the team reinforced. Dennis Law was highly skilled, and at the time was known for his endless foul play and mischievous play. Under Busby's careful guidance, Dennis Law showed a different kind of concentration at Manchester United, sending out amazing energy. Apart from Best and Lowe, United's former star Bobby Charlton has also regained, becoming strong and confident, mastering more other skills despite his reduced speed and improving his combined abilities.
United have re-emerged, once again rushing to the top of the title with an unstoppable posture. In 1963 Manchester United won the FA Cup, dennis Law performed well in the 1963–64 season, scoring 30 goals in 30 appearances and being named European Footballer of the Year. From 1964 to 1965, United were invincible in the league and eventually won the championship. Busby's team is once again on top of Britain.
After United won the title, bobby Charlton, the core of the team, together with Stiles and John Connery, played for England in the 1966 World Cup and helped England win the World Cup. England's core Bobby Charlton played well, performed steadily, and almost single-handedly fulfilled the dream of English football. It was because of Charlton's excellent performance that he was named European Footballer of the Year.
In the 1966-1967 season, Manchester United successfully defended its title and once again dominated English football.
When Busby re-emerged at Manchester United, he was inspired by other teams to refer to himself with a domineering nickname and suggested using "Red Devils" as the team's nickname. Busby said: "I want to call Manchester United this team the 'Red Devils', I want the team to keep the morale, be aggressive and play good football. I hope That United will fight tenaciously in the face of adversity and that United will never give in and never give up! ”
In the 1967–68 season, Busby re-led Manchester United to the European Champions Cup. The regrouped Manchester United swept all the way through the thousands of troops, successively picking off the Scottish Herbnian team, the Yugoslav Sarajevo team, the Polish Zabrze team, and defeating the championship favourite Real Madrid in the semi-finals, taking the most critical step.
On 29 May 1968, exactly 10 years after the Munich air disaster, United faced Portugal's Benfica at Wembley Stadium to compete for the European Cup. The surviving Bobby Charlton, Bill Fox and Greg all competed in the finals, and they inspired all the players to fight to the end. Bobby Charlton scored his first goal and Benfica equalised in the 81st minute. The 90-minute finished after United defended Ulysses' one-handed knife. The two teams played extra time to decide the winner, and United took full control of the situation in extra time, locking in a 4-1 victory with goals from Best, Kidd and Charlton.
Manchester United finally won the European Champions League with a big victory!
It was a great game, a classic battle worth remembering for all Manchester United fans!
At the end of the game, Bobby Charlton, who had thinning hair, fell on the grass for a long time, tears rushing out. Busby choked up several times, old tears flowing, unable to help himself. At the award ceremony, Busby held aloft the Champions Cup for which Manchester United had given his life eight times, and each time he recited the names of players who died 10 years ago, as if calling on them to share this great moment together, and as if to announce that they and Manchester United had finally achieved their dreams together. At the moment when Busby finally raised the trophy to greet the audience, the audience shouted loudly and thunderous applause reverberated at Wembley Stadium, full of tears and calls, full of cheers and laughter.
In the hustle and bustle of solemnity, in the glory of the tribute, this is the most mixed moment of Busby's career as a professional coach. Ten years ago, the dream team created by Busby was wiped out in the air crash, and ten years later he led the rebuilding Manchester United to achieve the unfinished dream!
With this Champions League trophy in mind, Manchester United has finally achieved its dream! Busby finally comforts those who have given their lives for the glory of football!
It was this year that Manchester United's most legendary player, Best, was honoured as The Honour of The Honour of the European Footballer of the Year and Busby was knighted by the Queen.
The Munich air disaster is a black page in the history of Manchester United clubs, an eternal memory engraved in the blood. Devastating catastrophe, the team is on the verge of disintegration, bankruptcy is only one step away. Manchester United are tenacious, tenacious in the face of disaster, united, re-formed the team, insisted on participating in all competitions, and let manchester United's red flag continue to fly high. Busby recovered from his critical illness and continued to run Manchester United, leading the Manchester United people to tenacious rebirth and tenaciously rise again. League champion, Champions League champion, Busby achieved the red miracle! Born to die and never give in, this is the spirit of the Red Devils!
Busby had no regrets and resigned as manager of Manchester United in 1969. When the 60-year-old Scottish man left, more than 100,000 people sent him off. Busby left behind numerous golden trophies and countless honors, leaving behind a spiritual wealth that cannot be calculated with money. Busby created a Dynasty of Red Devils, bringing United 1 Champions League title, 5 league titles and 3 Europa League players of the Year, a peak that no other team can match!
Busby has been at the helm of Manchester United since 1945 and has performed two miracles. Busby connects manchester United's past, present and future, gives them the spirit of immortality, creates a tradition of Manchester United like a big family, and imprints the character traits of Manchester United who are aggressive and never give up.
In elaborating on his philosophy of football, Busby once said, "Winning a game at all costs does not mean true achievement." You give your all, you fight bravely, and it doesn't hurt your reputation to lose in time. I hope that Manchester United, as a team full of courage, pursue great performances, make the game wonderful, make the confrontation wonderful. I like the dramatic effects, the skillful technique, the carefully controlled rhythms, the sparks of confrontation between different styles. I hope that the fans who love Manchester United can feel the passion of the team, feel the unity of the team, and inspire them to always move forward, face difficulties and never give up. This is the football I pursue, football that is passionate and enterprising, romantic and wonderful. ”
This is the most valuable asset that Busby has brought to Manchester United when he is in charge.
Over the years, United have built statues of legendary managers to thank and commemorate Busby's great contributions. To this day, Busby's statue stands quietly at the entrance of the Dream Theater, and his deep gaze makes every fan feel responsibility and deep sustenance.
Opposite him, three legendary Manchester United heroes, Dennis Law, Charlton and Bates, were also carved into bronze statues, as if they were being reviewed by the manager. The three Manchester United heroes standing together have both flying and jumping, confident maturity, and unity and tacit understanding.
Together, they are known as the "Three Saints of the Red Devil".
The bronze statues of the three saints of Manchester United and the bronze statues of Busby stand, as if they are always together, always waiting for the clarion call of the expedition, always ready to fight, ready to achieve new victories. Strolling through it, fans will feel the heritage of the club's legend and feel the solemn atmosphere.
After Busby left, United once again fell into a trough. The huge achievement of reaching the top of the Champions League is satisfying, and the team is in a state of complacency. United were relegated to second division in 1972-1973, and although they returned to first division the following season, it was difficult to regain their glory. United have struggled to explore, but have always hit a wall. Although Manchester United has the largest football stadium in the United Kingdom, has a lot of income, has a lot of big deals in signings, and has chosen many famous managers to coach, this still can't bring the team to a new peak of honor. United only made a splash in the cups, with the team winning the FA Cup twice in 1977 and 1983, but that was it. In the 1986-1987 season, the team was on the verge of relegation.
In the more than 20 years since Busby's departure, we call the Red Devils' "second dark period." The accumulation of time, the difficult quest after slipping from the peak of honor, makes the Red Devils more depressed and more dignified.