Last time United faced St-Etienne was in Plymouth!
MANCHESTER United were drawn against Saint-Etienne in the Europa League yesterday, reviving memories of one of the more peculiar episodes in the club’s history.
United were forced to play the home leg of their Cup-Winners’ Cup tie against the French team at Plymouth Argyle’s Home Park when the two clubs last met 39 years ago after English hooligans caused trouble in the first game in Saint-Etienne.
UEFA initially kicked United out of the competition in September 1977 but allowed the FA Cup holders back in two days later providing they staged the tie more than 200 miles from Old Trafford.
‘The first idea was to play it in Glasgow but UEFA kiboshed that one,’ recalled former United defender Arthur Albiston. ‘I suppose Plymouth was nearer France! Home Park was packed to the rafters. I don’t think their players were used to having fans so close to the pitch like we were in England. The United fans made it a little bit unsettling for them and that helped us.’
More than 31,000 supporters watched the only European tie ever to be staged at Plymouth’s ground — 281 miles away from Old Trafford.
Goals from Stuart Pearson and Steve Coppell gave United a 2-0 win on the night and 3-1 on aggregate against a Saint-Etienne team that had reached the European Cup final the year before.
‘It was a bad time for crowd trouble but the fans followed us down to Home Park and made it a home tie,’ said ex-United striker Jimmy Greenhoff.
‘Although it was strange playing at Plymouth the crowd was fantastic. We went through and I think United will go through again this time. They’re playing very well and it looks like they’ve turned a corner.’
Greenhoff played alongside his brother Brian that night and United’s meeting with Saint-Etienne in the last 32 of this season’s Europa League will see Paul Pogba facing his older brother Florentin.
The 26-year-old Guinea international plays at centre back for the French club, who topped Group C but currently lie eighth in Ligue 1.
‘It has happened a few times in the history of football and it’s a nice thing,’ said United manager Jose Mourinho. ‘Paul was already laughing about it and for sure his brother is also laughing.’
The first leg will be at Old Trafford on Thursday, February 16 but the second leg in France has been moved forward to Wednesday, February 22 because SaintEtienne’s neighbours Lyon are at home 24 hours later. It gives United more time to prepare for the Manchester derby that weekend or the EFL Cup final at Wembley if they beat Hull City in the semi-finals.
The short trip to France was also a relief for Mourinho after long treks to Fenerbahce and Zorya Luhansk in the group stage.
‘The good thing is the travel distance,’ said Mourinho. ‘We were very unlucky in the group phase. We had to go very far and it was very difficult to go to Turkey and Ukraine. Now we go to France, the flight is easy. It’s not an easy period, there are lots of games.
‘Saint-Etienne is an historic old club with lots of tradition. People of my generation will never forget that Michel Platini team.
‘Manchester United is one of the big names in the competition. We have two months without the Europa League, two months to forget it — then we will see.’