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United may relive 1968

Manchester United could face a return to Wembley, the scene of their 1968 European Cup triumph, if plans to hold the Champions…

Wed Dec 17 1997 - 00:00

Manchester United could face a return to Wembley, the scene of their 1968 European Cup triumph, if plans to hold the Champions' League final in Amsterdam fall through.

The Amsterdam Arena, the home of Ajax, has been chosen to host the final of this year's tournament on Wednesday, May 20th next year, subject to the venue dropping all commercial rights.

Dutch organisers have yet to agree to drop those rights at the 51,600 capacity stadium and have 10 days to conform to UEFA's contract to stage the showpiece event.

Wembley, the scene of United's 4-1 final win over Benfica 29 years ago, and Barcelona's Nou Camp are standing by as reserve venues. But Thomas Kurth, the head of UEFA's competitions department, was confident that the problems with the Amsterdam Arena would be overcome before the deadline.

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United will find out tomorrow who they will face in the quarterfinals of the tournament.

Meanwhile, Chelsea will be planning their route to Stockholm after it was announced that the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup will be played at the Rasunda Stadium in the Swedish capital on May 13th.

Ruud Gullit's men will also find out who they face in the last eight in Europe tomorrow, as will Aston Villa, who have reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup. They could be set for a date in Paris on May 6th with that tournament's final to be played at the Parc des Princes.

It will be the first time the event will be decided in one match on a neutral venue. In previous years, the UEFA Cup was held on a home and away leg basis. The Super Cup, in which the winner of the Champions' League and Cup Winners' Cup meet, will be in Monaco's Stade Louis II on August 28th.

Kenny Dalglish yesterday dismissed suggestions that Ian Rush is to retire at the end of the season, after the Welshman bounced back into Newcastle's first-team picture for their clash with Derby at St James' Park tomorrow.

A report last weekend suggested the former Liverpool striker would hang up his boots next summer, but Magpies' boss Dalglish insisted the player's comments had been misconstrued.