Manchester United face Galatasary in Istanbul this evening, with the minds of United fans wandering back to the first time they travelled to face the Turkish club in the Champions League. It was November of 1993 when Alex ferguson"s side travelled to the city on the Bosphorous for the second leg in the round of 16. The first leg had been drawn 3-3 at Old Trafford and with a 0-0 draw at home the Turkish side advanced to the quarter final on the away goals rule.The Turkish champions had beaten Irish champions Cork City in the previous round, beating the Leesiders by an aggregate score of 3-2.
The Manchester United game is remembered 19 years later not for the result, but for the scenes which greeted the United team when they arrived in Istanbul and the intense atmosphere in the ground. An atmosphere that Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted was the most intimidating he has ever experienced, saying it was "as much hostility and harassment as I have ever known on a football expedition". In the dying moments of the game Eric Cantona had lost his composure through frustration at what he perceived to be the time wasting of the galatasary players. The Ffrenchman was sent off for kicking out at an opposition player, moments after the final whistle had gone. Roy Keane, who played on the night, says that after that moment "all hell broke loose". Cantona was attacked by the police, as was captain Bryan Robson as he attempted to intervene in the scuffle.
The intimidation wasn"t confined to the Ali Sami Yen stadium, and extended to late night calls to players" hotel rooms, the smashing of the windows on the team bus and even assault on players by Turkish police.
With United already through to the second round, and with several big names left at home, the game will hold little significance for Ferguson"s side. Galatasary, however, are involved in a tight 3 way battle for second place with Cluj and Sporting Braga.
The United squad were given another warm welcome by the Turkish fans when they arrived in Istanbul yesterday, not dissimilar to their last visit.
