Manchester United’s gamers wore black armbands whereas there was a minute’s silence earlier than the Champions League sport with FC Copenhagen at Old Trafford in honour of legend Sir Bobby Charlton.
On an emotional evening, a wreath was positioned on Sir Bobby’s seat within the administrators’ field as United performed at residence for the primary time since his passing.
United boss Erik ten Hag, led by a lone piper, laid a wreath on the pitch.
Charlton was additionally remembered on the quilt the match programme.
Before kick-off, two black and white photos of the England 1966 World Cup winner seemed down from the glass fronted primary entrance at Old Trafford subsequent to the phrases ‘Sir Bobby Charlton 1937-2023 Forever Loved’.
Many United followers, who have been suggested to reach early for 20:00 BST kick-off, laid floral tributes outdoors the bottom.
Inside Old Trafford the stadium announcer urged supporters to take their seats nicely earlier than kick-off as there can be a pre-match tribute to “one of many best gamers there has ever been”.
A banner learn “Sir Bobby. Born in Ashington. Made in Manchester”, whereas Copenhagen followers joined in chants of “One Bobby Charlton”.
Ten Hag walked onto the pitch with Alex Stepney, a former team-mate of Sir Bobby’s, and Under-21 captain Dan Gore, earlier than laying a wreath and collaborating in a minute’s silence.
The trio had been led out by piper Terry Carr, whereas away supporters unveiled a banner that learn “Passion is what separates the great from the nice. Rest in peace Sir Bobby Charlton.”
Sir Bobby performed alongside elder brother Jack in opposition to West Germany at Wembley in 1966 as one among solely 11 England gamers to win the World Cup, and in addition captained Manchester United to the sport’s main honours, together with the European Cup in 1968.
The European Cup win, with Sir Bobby scoring twice in a 4-1 win in opposition to Benfica at Wembley, carried nice poignancy and emotion as a result of he was a survivor of the Munich air catastrophe on 6 February 1958 which killed 23 individuals, together with eight gamers and three members of the membership’s workers.
Ten Hag mentioned earlier than the sport that his gamers needed to “fulfil Sir Bobby’s legacy”.
Speaking to TNT Sports, he added: “It could be very emotional. Let’s discover inspiration.”
