Manchester United players and staff paid tribute on Friday to those who died in the Munich air disaster in 1958.
Manager Louis van Gaal was at Old Trafford to lay a wreath at the Munich air disaster memorial to remember the 23 people killed in the tragic crash. Â He believes his Manchester United team follow in the footsteps of Sir Matt Busby’s team by playing an attractive brand of football.
Geoff Bent, Roger Byrne, Eddie Colman, Duncan Edwards, Mark Jones, David Pegg, Tommy Taylor and Liam ‘Billy’ Whelan were the fatalities from the playing staff at Old Trafford, when flight 609 crashed on its third take-off attempt from Munich-Riem Airport.
The Red Devils were returning from a European Cup match in Belgrade, when the plane stopped for refuelling.
The disaster remains a huge part of Manchester United’s history, and Van Gaal says it will be wholly respected while he is in charge of the club.
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The Dutchman told his pregame news conference on Friday: “I represent the club nowadays as a manager and I represent my group of players. There was a group of players who had given a lot of joy to the people at that time.”
“They have played a part in the history of this club and I think we have to remember that always. They have a big influence still,” he added.