United retakes Champions League stage

Manchester United sailed to victory against Club Brugge to qualify for the 2015/16 UEFA Champions League. The Club is ready for the challenge and excited about their draw in Group B.

Earlier this week, the Reds secured a 7-1 aggregate play-off victory over Club Brugge to assume their place among Europe’s football elite. Yesterday during the draw in Monaco, France, Louis van Gaal’s men discovered their group-stage opponents. Manchester United will play PSV Eindhoven, CSKA Moscow and Wolfsburg in Group B of this season's UEFA Champions League group stage.

“It feels great to be back in the Champions League.” (Ashley Young)

Glad to be back
After a one-year hiatus, the boys from Old Trafford are thrilled to be back on the Champions League stage.

“It feels great to be back in the Champions League,” says United veteran Ashley Young. “Every player wants to be playing on that stage. Last season was tough, sitting at home and watching on TV. It was disappointing, but to bring those nights back to Old Trafford is fantastic and everyone’s looking forward to it. There’s an extra little buzz around the place as well because we’ve got some new players at the club and they’re ready for their first taste of the competition. We’re all excited.” 

Excited isn’t the half of it. 

“We are Manchester United and we’re not scared of anyone,” says Morgan Schneiderlin, the French summer signing who can’t wait to begin the Champions League Group B campaign. “We’re all very keen to put in some big performances on the biggest stage in the world.”

“We are Manchester United and we’re not scared of anyone.” (Morgan Schneiderlin)

It’s won’t be easy
For coach van Gaal, drawing PSV Eindhoven means a return to home soil — a clash that for Memphis Depay means facing his former club. Beating the current Dutch champions will be no easy task, though history is in the Reds’ favor. United have taken the pitch against Eindhoven four times over the years, most recently in the 2000/01 group stage, where the team lost 3-1 in the away fixture, but reversed the score at Old Trafford three weeks later thanks to goals from Paul Scholes, Teddy Sheringham and Dwight Yorke. A match many fans still recall vividly today. The earliest meetings came in the second round of the 1984/85 UEFA Cup. The first leg in the Netherlands ended goalless before the Reds recorded a 1-0 victory in the return match at Old Trafford. 

Next up will be CSKA Moscow, who United last placed in the 2009/10 group stage. Antonio Valencia scored the winner in the away match at Luzhniki Stadium, the venue for the Reds' 2008 Champions League triumph, before the two teams played out a 3-3 draw back in Manchester. Moscow finished runner-up in the Russian Premier League last season and should not be taken lightly, but the Reds should go into that one with confidence.

United’s final opponent in Group B is another runner-up and a powerhouse in the German Bundesliga who some have predicted will beat out FC Bayern Munich for the German title this season: VfL Wolfsburg. Last season’s German Cup champions and UEFA Europa League quarter finalist are competing in only their second Champions League. United faced them in that 2009/10 group stage as well - Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs secured a 2-1 home win for the Reds, before a Michael Owen hat-trick sealed a 3-1 away victory. United certainly hopes to repeat that performance this year.

Excited is also hardly the word to describe how we at DHL feel about our partner’s return to the European stage. We plan to keep doing our job behind the scenes so that the Reds can do theirs on the pitch.

The Reds road to the final 16
Tuesday 15 September - PSV Eindhoven (A)
Wednesday 30 September - Wolfsburg (H)
Wednesday 21 October - CSKA Moscow (A)
Tuesday 3 November - CSKA Moscow (H)
Wednesday 25 November - PSV Eindhoven (H) 
Tuesday 8 December - Wolfsburg (A)

Great is in the Detail
Throughout Manchester United’s 2015/16 campaign, we’re diving into the details like never before. Follow us on Twitter (@DHLManUtd) to take part in #LegendaryMoments. Or check out our #BATTLESTATS fantasy game at www.manutd.com. Either way you’re sure to learn an exciting detail or two about the Club you love!