I write this as Manchester United prepare to welcome Athletic Bilbao to Old Trafford for the second leg of the semi-final of the Europa League.
We have one leg in the final already, and nothing short of a complete disaster will stop us from getting there – probably to face Tottenham unless they completely stack it in Norway against Bodø/Glimt.
I fancy us beating either of those teams in the final regardless, and if we do, we gain entry to the Champions League next season.
Despite the very real possibility of finishing as low as 17th in the league – but the less said about that the better.
It’s a comical situation, but proves once again that Manchester United are a trophy winning team, even in their worst periods. The Champions League is the elite club competition of Europe, so a team finishing 17th in a domestic league shouldn’t be there, by all accounts.
Yet Manchester United have a good number of Champions League winners in the team right now. These are people who know how to win in Europe, and that experience could be important over the next few weeks and into next season.
Who are they? Read on.
Casemiro
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Let’s start with the obvious one, shall we?
With five medals to his name, Casemiro has won more Champions League trophies than almost anyone else alive. Only Luka Modric and Dani Carvajal have won more (six a-piece), and all of them earned those gongs playing for Real Madrid as part of the same squad. And Casemiro was a key part of that squad.
When Casemiro signed for United it was hoped he could be the grown up in the room. The guy with experience, leadership, and maturity who could stabilise the midfield.
It sort of worked out in his first season, but he experienced a huge dip in form last season, and it’s been mixed for 2024/25. He seems to have found his form again recently, though, so maybe he can add another European trophy to his honours before the year is out.
He’s with us until next Summer too, so could be an invaluable presence if and when we play in the Champions League next season.
Mason Mount
People forget that Mason Mount has won the Champions League.
He did it with Chelsea in 2021, and was not only an important member of the first team, but even set up the winning (and only) goal. It was an incredible through ball from inside his own half, which Kai Havertz got on the end of after outpacing his man.
Look at this:
We could do with a bit more of that from him at United.
Chelsea hung onto their lead for the second half and beat Man City 1-0 to claim their second Champions League. Mount was just 22 years old at the time, and bagged the UEFA Super Cup and the Fifa World Club Cup in the same year, so he knows what it takes to win in Europe.
He’s still only 26, so has a perfect blend of youth and experience – if he can stay fit and regain his best form…
Joshua Zirkzee
Imagine winning a Champions League medal after playing just 4 minutes of European football. Well that’s exactly what happened to Joshua Zirkzee.
UEFA are just giving them away!
In all seriousness, while 4 minutes on the field might not sound like a much, being part of a Champions League winning squad during their triumphant campaign is a huge deal.
Zirkzee was at Bayern Munich during their 2019/20 season and came on at the end of a group game against Spurs, which Bayern won 3-1. His team mates included the likes of Benjamin Pavard, Phillipe Coutinho, Ivan Perišić, and Joshua Kimmich to name a few – all time served trophy winning players and experienced internationals to boot.
He was on the bench in the final against PSG too, although he wasn’t subbed on.
Even if he never touched the ball during that 4 minute cameo, being around these elite level athletes and observing what it took for them to win is experience few other players possess.
Jonny Evans
Alright, he has hardly featured this season, and alright, he’s not going to be here next season, but Jonny Evans is a Champions League medal holder nevertheless.
Plus, he won it with Manchester United.
I am of course talking about the 2008 Champions League win, Manchester United’s second victory in the competition. Evans was a fresh faced 19 year old at the time and yet to break into the squad. He wasn’t even on the bench for the final, but he had made a few appearances in the group stages including a full 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Roma, and a substitute appearance in a 4-0 thrashing of Dynamo Kyiv.
This was enough to earn him a medal.