REDS SEE IN OLE’S GREY SHIRTS MOMENT
United change banners to black around Old Trafford to help players pick each other out as red clashed with their strip
MANCHESTER UNITED have ditched the red banners around Old Trafford to help their players pick out teammates.
The move comes almost 25 years to the day since Sir Alex Ferguson infamously ordered his men to change from their grey strip at half-time at Southampton.
He felt the colour made it hard for them to see each other, but the switch to a blue and white kit did not stop them from losing 3-1.
History has repeated itself ahead of tonight’s Europa League quarter-final second leg at Old Trafford, with United 2-0 up against Granada.
Black banners have now been installed around the perimeter of the pitch to stop shirts from clashing with a red background. Ole Gunnar
Solskjaer’s side have not won in their last three European games at home and the Norwegian revealed the reason for dumping the red colour scheme was, in part, an attempt to improve form on their own turf.
“You’ll see a change now,” said boss Solskjaer. “If you see the banners around the club, it’s not red any more.
“We’ve looked into this, although there shouldn’t be a reason, really. But some of the players have mentioned that split-second decision, when you have to look over your shoulder to see if your teammate is there or not.
“It’s the red shirt, on a red background, with red seats. So we’ve tried to change that along with the anti-racism campaign, so it was important it wasn’t red anymore.”
The move led former United captain Gary Neville to compare the situation to the game at Southampton in 1996, which he played in.
Neville tweeted: “This is Ole’s grey shirt moment.”
Black and white United Against Racism banners have been put up in the first few rows of the stadium, although Solskjaer believes the last two home ties in Europe – draws with Real Sociedad and AC Milan – were decent results.
“There shouldn’t be any reason,” said Solskjaer. “But then again, if you have a 4-0 advantage, like we did against Real Sociedad, you don’t really have to win that game, 0-0 was a good result.
“Then, in the first game against AC Milan, we conceded in the last minute.”
After three semi-final defeats, Solskjaer and his players are determined to win the Europa League, which was the last piece of silverware United lifted, in 2017.
He said losing those games had made the players more determined to land a first trophy with him in charge.
“I can feel a change in the belief and confidence,” said Solskjaer.
“Now you can see the focus – we want to win a trophy. The disappointment of last year’s semi-final defeats have done something to the mentality of the group, definitely.”
United skipper Harry Maguire, left-back Luke Shaw and midfielder Scott Mctominay are all suspended tonight after being booked in the first leg.