Source: Daily_Mail
Manchester United: Champions League semi-finals under Sir Alex Ferguson
[LNB]SirAlex Ferguson has helped Manchester United through to their seventh semi-final of the Champions League era, where they take on German outfitSchalke.[LNB]Before anybody contacts us to remind me that the European Cup existed long before the 1990s, I couldn't be more aware. This is of course a 12th European Cup semi-final overall for the club. But this article is focusing on United in Europe under Ferguson.[LNB]Let'stake a look back then at the six previous semi-finals United have played under their long-serving manager. Joy, agony, delight, ecstasy, pain. It's all here[LNB] 1997: United lose 2-0 to Borussia Dortmund on aggregate[LNB]Thisone still haunts Ferguson. That isn't surprising, because this was the most extraordinary of semi-finals. Not so much the first leg, where Dortmund claimed the initiative with a 1-0 win in Germany. It was the second leg at Old Trafford that will live longer in the memory.[LNB]LarsRicken scored early on for the Germans, and United then needed three goals. To put events in a nutshell, they then proceeded to miss an absolute hatful of chances. The Reds could still be playing now, and they wouldn't score. Eric Cantona, Andy Cole, David Beckham, they all had fine opportunities to score. I have still never seen United miss so many chances in a big match.[LNB]Itjust wasn't to be that night, and Dortmund advanced to the Munich final. If the whole thing wasn't bad enough, United's legendary French star Cantona told Ferguson the next day that he planned to retire from the game.[LNB] It wasn't to be: Ole Solksjaer tries to force the ball home for United against Borussia Dortmund[LNB]1999: United beat Juventus 4-3 on aggregate[LNB]This is the one.[LNB]Somepeople tend to forget how brilliantly Juventus played in the first leg at Old Trafford. They frankly outplayed United for the entire first half, and could have scored four, not just the one they did manage through Antonio Conte. United's spirit hauled them back into proceedings, and Ryan Giggs fired a late equaliser that sent home fans into delirium.[LNB]All that seemed academic two weeks later in Turin, when two early goals put Juventus 3-1 ahead on aggregate, and seemingly in complete control. Onlythe most optimistic of United fans gave Ferguson's men a prayer at thatstage.[LNB]As it happened, the Reds went on to produce the greatest performance I've ever seen from a Manchester United team. Roy Keane, whosebooking on the night would rule him out of the final, rose to head in acorner to give the visitors hope, and with confidence visibly soaring Dwight Yorke headed another goal to equalise on the night.[LNB]Thetie remained on a knife-edge until the final minutes, when United decisively broke away and Cole scored a goal that would sent United intotheir first European Cup final since 1968. It was an emotional night for United fans the world over.[LNB] Heading for the final: Dwight Yorke scores for United in Turin[LNB]2002: United lose to Bayer Leverkusen on away goals (3-3 on aggregate)[LNB]Anotherone of those nightmares for the United manager and supporters. Only those of a truly masochistic disposition would ever want to see these games again, but you still find yourself asking: how did United not go through? For one thing, they were leading three times in the tie.[LNB]That'snot to dismiss Leverkusen, who had some fine players. Germany's great Michael Ballack for one, not to mention a young Dimitar Berbatov up front. United still should have had too much for their opponents however, but they were twice pegged back in the first game at Old Trafford after scoring through an own goal and a penalty from Ruud van Nistelrooy.[LNB]WhenKeane put United in front early on in the second leg, United again had the advantage but Oliver Neuville equalised just before half-time, and it seemed to knock the stuffing out of Ferguson's men.[LNB]They recovered just in time to pile on the late pressure, but they couldn't make it count and United fans would wake up in cold sweats all summer at the thought of Ole Solskjaer blazing over the bar from close range with time almost up.[LNB] Agony for United: Oliver Neuville celebrates after scoring for Bayer Leverkusen in the second leg[LNB]2007: United lose 5-3 to AC Milan on aggregate[LNB]Unitedhadn't reached the semi-finals in five years. In fact, less than 18 months before this last four battle, they were knocked out in the group stages of the Champions League, and some pundits were calling on Ferguson to retire.[LNB]The first leg of this semi-final was a thriller, on one of the great European nights at Old Trafford. Ronaldo's early header put United in front, but Kaka scored twice to put AC Milan in charge before the break.Wayne Rooney equalised on the hour mark, and with time running out the striker then fired home a stunning injury time winner.[LNB]Unitedhad a narrow advantage, but with Nemanja Vidic starting the second leg despite a broken collar bone the portents weren't good. Sheer Milanese experience contributed to a very comfortable night for the Italian giants, as AC Milan coasted into the final.[LNB]Ferguson was reportedly wearing that haunted look on the way home, already mentally planning hisnext assault on the competition.[LNB] Painful night: Kaka scores for AC Milan at the San Siro[LNB]2008: United beat Barcelona 1-0 on aggregate[LNB]Unitedreceived a fair amount of criticism for their approach to the first legof this semi-final at the Nou Camp. Ferguson certainly did put defence first on the night, but surely needs must at times. Barcelona dominated the match in terms of possession, but Cristiano Ronaldo did miss an early penalty for United.[LNB]Therewas a feeling that the second leg might well be one of those nights, and it didn't disappoint. Paul Scholes put United in front early on witha magnificent strike from distance, but the lead was a tenuous one. Thesecond half seemed to last an eternity for United supporters, who were all too aware that a goal for Barcelona would send them to the final.[LNB]OldTrafford was at fever pitch, and when United held on, the old ground shook with joy. Ferguson claimed it was the best atmosphere he had knownduring his time as manager, and older United supporters were comparing it to a fabled night in 1984 when Bryan Robson inspired United to victory over the same opposition. United were on their way to Moscow foran all-English final.[LNB] A goal to remember: Paul Scholes celebrates after scoring his brilliant goal against Barcelona[LNB]2009: United beat Arsenal 4-1 on aggregate[LNB]Unitedhad only played against an English team in one match before this semi-final showdown, and that was the titanic Moscow final against Chelsea a year earlier. This was in many ways the Ferguson against Arsene Wenger show, but on this occasion the Frenchman and his team had little answer to the greater quality in United's team.[LNB]Unitedhad an unlikely scorer to thank in the first game, with John O'Shea blasting the ball into the roof of the net, and in the second leg they took instant control. Ji-Sung Park and Ronaldo scored before Arsenal knew what had hit them, and United were well on their way to the Rome final.[LNB]Ronaldo sealed the deal when he completed a fabulous move to score a third goal, and the only disappointment was a harsh late sending off for Darren Fletcher, which ruled the Scot out of the final.[LNB] Seeing off their rivals: Cristiano Ronaldo scores United's third goal at the Emirates[LNB] Sir Alex: Now we feel like champions... but let's beat Arsenal and Chelsea tooJavier it! Hernandez's late strike puts Red Devils close to 19th title[LNB][LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People: Alex Ferguson, Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Michael Ballack, Darren Fletcher, Cristiano Ronaldo, Andy Cole, Nemanja Vidic, John O'Shea, Roy Keane, Bryan Robson, Dimitar Berbatov, Dwight Yorke, Wayne Rooney, Kaka, Oliver Neuville Places: Barcelona, Munich, Moscow, Rome, Germany, Europe
