Neil’s Euro stars join legends and experience the magic of Milan
MALDINI, Ronaldo, Van Basten, Baggio, Gullit, Baresi, Ancelotti, Trapattoni, Mancini, Zanetti, Pirlo – the names of some of the greatest to ever play or manage the game and passed through the iconic doors of the San Siro roll off the tongue.
From World Cup matches to this season’s Champions League semi-finals, the stadium that houses AC Milan and Internazionale is one of the most famous arenas on earth.
On Thursday, FC United of Manchester will follow in the footsteps of legends as they aim to defend the Fenix Trophy they won 12 months ago in Rimini.
“This hasn’t sunk in one bit and I don’t think it will arrive,” boss Neil Reynolds tells The NLP. “When I try to explain to my mates we’re playing at the San Siro Stadium, they’re kind of like, ‘No you’re not?’ We are! It’s surreal.
“Although the lads have wanted to rest because it’s been a gruelling season, they’ve wanted to tick over because they don’t want to underperform in one of the biggest stadiums in the world. It’s just totally surreal.”
The Red Rebels have been all over Europe in this newly-formed competition, taking on sides from Poland, Spain, Czech Republic and Belgium in its first two years since inception.
They’ve topped their group again this season to make the final four and, on Tuesday, fly out to Milan ahead of Wednesday’s semi final against Danish side BK Sjold at Civica Arena.
Brera FC – from Milan – take on Prague Raptors in the other semi with the winners meeting in a final on Thursday afternoon at the San Siro.
A bronze medal match will also take place there beforehand, with kick-offs moved forward so work can start on getting the stadium ready to host a live event for Inter’s Champions League Final date with Manchester City on the Saturday.
“I say this to the lads,” Reynolds says. “They won’t remember Ruud Gullit, Van Basten, Roberto Baggio. The managers that have been there – Mancinis, Maldinis. I can’t put it into words.
“Then when you see the stadium on the TV…we watched the Milan derby on the TV three weeks’ ago and I was like, ‘Wow, we’re going to be there’.
Bucket list
“When it’s all over, when asked where is the best place you’ve played, I don’t think anyone is going to beat the San Siro!
“Can you imagine being on the back of a coach and being asked that question and lads like Charlie Ennis say: San Siro! It’s just surreal.”
Ennis can’t quite believe it himself either.
“Probably only a handful of Premier League players have played at the San Siro,” the midfielder tells The NLP.
“Realistically, from Championship all the way down, you’d struggle to find a player who has played a competitive game at the San Siro.
“That speaks volumes and it’s something we will look back on in 30 years time – it’s bucket list stuff. Not many English players can say they have played there.
“Honestly, until we step foot out on the pitch, it probably won’t hit home. I have watched YouTube videos, the lads have been speaking about it, it’s amazing. It’s one of the big reasons lads come and play at FC United.
“FC is a fan-owned club, tries to do things the right way, doesn’t have a money man pumping money into it but you don’t know where your future is in two month’s time. Normally, if a player is here, he’s here for the right reasons.”
For manager Reynolds, inset, the magnitude of the occasion is driven by representing such a unique fanowned club.
“I want to win everything we put our minds to,” Reynolds says.
“I know it’s going to be hard.
The teams we play might have different players than have represented this season because they have different transfer windows.
“We’re going out with our squad that has finished the season. We won’t be showcasing new signings. It’s the side that got us there and I have every faith in them we can give a good show of ourselves. “But then I flip it back, and I’ve said this to our lads, that our supporters are unreal. They’re the best in NonLeague, haven’t anything like it. You’ve got to remember they followed Manchester United all around Europe and probably went to the San Siro.
“So it’s great for the players, but it’s also a massive ‘have that back’ to the fans. When they walked away from Old Trafford all those years ago, did they ever believe they’d be watching their own team – a team they own – playing in the San Siro?
“Nobody would have said that in 2005. People would have rolled about laughing.
“But because of the energy of the club, the work that goes on behind the scenes, this dream has become a reality and we’re going. We can’t wait for it.”
The players reconvened on Thursday evening for training having made the most of a break since their Step 3 season finished just over a month ago.
“It’s unique,” Ennis says. “Not many Non-League players will get this opportunity, not just to play where we’re going this time. But even where we’ve played previously. I’ve been to Poland, Valencia, Belgium, Rimini.
Experience
“You might think it’s a bit of a mess around but it’s not. It’s well organised, a lot of fans go, it’s a proper set-up.
“It’s a good experience. It’s one of the perks of the clubs, you get to do stuff not many Non-League players get the opportunity to do.
“Especially at the level we’re at, you’re expected to be like a fulltime athlete playing part-time football.
“Lads are working and we train on a Tuesday and Thursday. But I think you will struggle to find any players who are playing at a good level part-time and not training five nights a week – out running up hills on a Monday morning or whatever. That’s where the standard has got to. This is a perk.”
Not that it should be confused with being there for the occasion. Certainly nobody in the squad wants to be turning up at the San Siro on Thursday to play the first of the day’s two games.
Reynolds is taking son Jack, Ennis’ family will make the trip too as will many Red Rebels’ fans ready to witness another tale in the story of their club.
In 2005, unhappy with the way their club was being run, Manchester United fans formed started this remarkable journey.
“It’s nothing against any clubs, but this club, FC United of Manchester, is unique,” Reynolds says. “It was two fingers up at the Glazers and the commercialisation and being brave to walk away from a club that was at the top of the game in 2005.
“They walked away, they did this. They’ve come through NonLeague, worked their way up to the National League, and now back down to the Northern Premier League.
“To turn around and be able to say in 18 years of history, we’ve watched our side in Europe, in Warsaw, in Valencia, in Antwerp.
“Now all of a sudden they’re going to watch their beloved team – that they own – in the San Siro. Tell me another club with that opportunity.
“That’s why it is so special and why I am so proud to be the manager. Win, lose or, draw this is a unique opportunity to say, ‘people said we’d only be here until Christmas – 18 years later we’re in the San Siro’.”