Manchester United's Europa League opponents are fans of the Red Devils
Manchester United are supposed to face the Danish Superliga side FC Midtjylland in the Europa League after they failed to progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League. While this is being noted as a fall from grace for Manchester United, Midtjylland players are openly excited to face the English giants.
The Danish side’s midfielders Tim Sparv and Kristoffer Olsson have been Manchester United fans since childhood and when they step out onto the turf at Old Trafford, it will be a dream come true for them.
Tim Sparv is a Finnish footballer who plays in the midfield for FC Midtjylland. He has experienced the English Premier League before, having signed for Southampton in 2003. He left the club with no caps for the Saints, although he did manage to make it to the first team. As the Europa League draw was made on Monday, Tim Sparv tweeted his love for Manchester United, the club he supported as a boy.
Unreal! I'm actually going to play against Manchester United. The club I've supported since I was a boy. @EuropaLeague @ManUtd
— Tim Sparv (@TimSparv) December 14, 2015
A certain Kristoffer Olsson also features in the starting 11 of FC Midtjylland. Olsson had been signed by United’s English rivals, Arsenal, back in 2011 when he was still a Swedish U21 international. He made only one senior team appearance for Arsenal but as reported by Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, Olsson supported the Red Devils before joining their rivals Arsenal,
Olsson said,
“I was also a United fan until I came to Arsenal. It was so natural. Before that it was United, particularly with (David) Beckham and (Cristiano) Ronaldo.”
In his sole appearance for Arsenal he came on as a substitute agianst West Bromwich Albion in their League Cup tie in 2013, with only six minutes remaining. The game was a 1-1 draw at the end of ninety minutes and it went on to penalty shoot-outs. Arsenal won the match on penalties, Olsson having netted one of the goals.
In 2014 Olsson was loaned out to FC Midtjylland and a year later the deal was made permanent. Olsson has prospered in the Danish Superliga, garnering regular game time for Midtjylland as an attacking midfielder. Midtjylland won the Danish League last year with Olsson having made 10 appearances for the club. Olsson has created five chances and has a shot acuuracy of 67% in the Europa League.
Midtjylland currently sit third in the Danish League, a slight regression from their title winning form last year. Although a mouth-watering trip to Old Trafford will be just the tonic two of their players need.