MAGIC MOMENT
Hero Middleton says United players ensured club’s return to European competition didn’t pass them by
ON a night for the ages at Tannadice, Glenn Middleton picked the perfect occasion to announce his arrival as a Dundee United player.
The 22-year-old attacker is young, gifted and quick enough to go on to enjoy a distinguished career at his new club after moving from Rangers on a permanent deal last month.
But the Scotland Under-21s captain will be lucky to score a finer goal than he managed on his full debut in Thursday night’s stunning Europa Conference League win over AZ Alkmaar.
Picking Dylan Levitt’s lofted diagonal pass out of the sky, Middleton left Jordy Clasie and Hakon Evjen for dead on the right touchline before trading passes with Jamie McGrath at the edge of the box, then sending a perfect rising finish into the top corner as cool as you like, leaving a soldout Tannadice crowd dumbstruck but delirious.
No stranger to making an instant impact in continental competition, Middleton scored on his first Euro start for Rangers in a 4-3 defeat to Spartak Moscow in the Europa League in 2018.
But Thursday’s goal, which secured a lead to take into the second leg in Holland next Thursday, topped his big moment for the Ibrox side.
‘I scored against Spartak away and that was an unbelievable feeling, but this maybe surpasses that,’ said Middleton.
‘After I scored, I looked up to my family in the Eddie Thompson Stand and everyone was there — my mum, dad, sister and girlfriend.
‘Then I walked to the halfway line and it was an unbelievable feeling. It was a moment that will never leave me.
‘It was a brilliant team goal and you saw everyone’s emotions come out when the ball went in.
‘I have watched it back a few times already. I didn’t get much sleep on Thursday night.
‘I had some lovely texts after the game and hopefully I can have a few more nights like this.’
As always with Dundee United in Europe, the club’s glorious past came into focus.
The legendary Dave Narey added to the nostalgia when he made a rare public appearance on the park before kick-off.
The elegant former defender’s presence was a reminder of the days when, under Jim McLean, the unfashionable Tayside club reached a European Cup semifinal in 1984 and the UEFA Cup final three years later.
Unlike subsequent United sides, the weight of expectation did not make the tangerine jerseys hang heavily on the backs of new boss Jack Ross’s players this week.
‘There was all the talk of Dundee United being back on the European stage and we didn’t want to let the occasion bypass us — and we didn’t,’ said Middleton.
‘I didn’t get to speak to Dave Narey, but the thought that legends are watching makes you excited for the game.
‘Everybody knows the history of this club and it was about carrying it out on the park.
‘It is definitely the best in terms of the emotions I felt in the game. It was just a brilliant night, but it doesn’t mean anything unless we go out and carry out things again next week in the Netherlands. That is what we will be trying to do.’ Before kick-off, Ross spoke of the need to brush off the inferiority complex that can often plague Scottish clubs in Europe.
With Rangers having reached the Europa League final last season — and Scotland ending their long absence from finals by reaching Euro 2020 — the United boss believes the game in this country is on the up.
That was the message he delivered pre-match to his players as he urged them to target the group stages in United’s first continental foray in a decade.
Middleton believes that the performance and result against Alkmaar vindicated his manager’s confidence in our national game. ‘One hundred percent,’ he said. ‘The manager touched on that this week and I feel the same, that we definitely downplay our game in Scotland.
‘I could not agree more with what he said.
‘It is one thing saying that, but we needed to go out and prove it — and we did that on Thursday.
‘These are the moments you need to enjoy and the manager made sure we did.
‘Even before the game, he told us to enjoy it and not let it by-pass us. I think we managed to do that.’
In his managerial career, Ross has taken charge of games at a packed out Wembley with Sunderland and a capacity Hampden with Hibs.
But the 46-year-old was completely blown away by the atmosphere as Tannadice shook on his competitive home bow as United manager.
It will count for nothing unless he can coax the same level of performance from his side in the AFAS Stadium in Alkmaar next Thursday evening. ‘I loved it,’ said 46-year-old Ross. ‘I have been lucky in management in that I have been involved in some big games and big atmospheres.
‘But Thursday was right up there. It is not being patronising to say it, but there were times in the second half when the stadium rocked.
‘The noise was incredible. I am proud to lead a team who gave that performance.
‘The supporters had a special night. It won’t mean anything in terms of progressing through the tie, but people will always look back on the game fondly.
‘There was a new generation of fans who have never experienced a European night at Tannadice.
‘The players need to stop, take stock and understand that they did something special. But we have to keep doing it.
‘The players have shown they are able to go toe-to-toe with a good European team.
‘We have an important league game against Livingston before our attention turns to Europe.
‘But Thursday night’s result means we will go over there for the second leg with a sense of self belief within the group.’