Group F: Sporting Lisbon v Manchester UtdAnother European campaign begins for Manchester United tonight and, on the face of it, it appears to be a case of same-old, same-old. It is the 12th successive season the club have qualified for the Champions League and the third in a row they have come to Lisbon in the group stages.

The team are staying in the same five-star hotel as on each of their previous visits and it has reached the stage where Alex Ferguson is on first-name terms with the porters and concierges.

To describe it as just another European campaign, however, is to ignore the history that defines what the very words "Manchester United" mean and the strong emotional clamour that, in the 50th anniversary year of the Munich disaster, is inevitably going to attach itself to the team's hopes of providing the ultimate tribute for Matt Busby's team - namely, restoring the European Cup to Old Trafford.

It will need more than goodwill if United are to triumph in Moscow next May but, for those who were directly affected by the tragedy, there will be a unique sense of emotion - romanticism entwined with grief - should the club progress into the latter stages.

"I always thought it was very fitting that the 1968 team should win the European Cup on the 10th anniversary of Munich and, 50 years on, I don't think there could be a more fitting way for Manchester United to remember everyone who died than by winning it again," said Sandy Busby, Matt's son, last night. "My dad would be looking down, along with all the lads who were killed, and they would be so proud if the team can do it again."

Ferguson spoke at the weekend of it being an "extra incentive" for his players and it was a point the chief executive, David Gill, made on behalf of the club as the team arrived for their first look at Sporting Lisbon's Estadio Jose de Alvalade.

"This season's European campaign will, of course, have added poignancy," he said. "We set out every year to win this competition but there is no doubt that, while the club's focus is resolutely on the present, many minds will wander inevitably to our tragic past."

United take particular care to embrace the past and the significance of this season is felt particularly in the boardroom, where Bobby Charlton is among those devising a suitably respectful programme of events to remember the 23 people, including eight of his team-mates and friends, who lost their lives because of the crash on February 6th, 1958.

United are close to announcing plans for a new memorial outside Old Trafford and, to discuss the proposals in detail, have set up a working panel including Gill, the long-serving secretary Ken Ramsden and the freelance journalist David Meek, who worked as the United correspondent on the Manchester Evening News from 1958 to 1995. One idea under consideration is for the players to wear a one-off replica shirt from 1958, devoid of numbers and sponsors' logos, when they play Manchester City on February 9th, the closest game to the anniversary.

Frank Swift, a former City player, was among those killed in Munich, working as a News of the World reporter, and United will involve their neighbours so, in the words of one Old Trafford official, it is not just a Manchester United event but something to unite the entire city.

Meanwhile, Ferguson has expressed displeasure about the appointment of the German referee Herbert Fandel for the return of Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani to Sporting tonight.

Fandel, a trained pianist, has infuriated Ferguson on several occasions in the past few seasons and the Manchester United manager put his head in his hands, sighing melodramatically, when he was asked about Uefa's choice of officials. "Have we got a supply of Mogadon?" he said. Whether he felt the calming drug would be useful for the referee or his own temper, the Scot did not say.

Ferguson's dislike of Fandel dates back to a 2-1 defeat to Porto in 2004 when Roy Keane was sent off and, at the final whistle, Ferguson refused to shake hands with Jose Mourinho because he was furious about what he took to be the home side's diving.

Fandel also sent off Paul Scholes when United lost to Roma in the Stadio Olimpico last season, and the Scot accused him of favouring the Italians.

United's manager is especially sensitive at the moment because he believes his team, and Ronaldo in particular, have had a raw deal from referees this season. Ronaldo was sent off for clashing with Richard Hughes of Portsmouth in the opening week and was booked for a dive in Saturday's 1-0 win at Everton - but Ferguson feels that the winger was innocent on both occasions.

"It's worrying for us because it feels as if he is being punished for his success and I don't like that at all," he said. "In my mind - and in a lot of people's minds - there has been a lot of unfairness."

Ronaldo agreed. "What the boss says is true, but I don't want to speak about referees," he pointed out while preparing for his first game back at Sporting since signing for United in 2003.