Owen Hargreaves has reflected on the stark differences between Christmas parties at Manchester United and Bayern Munich.
It’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but it doesn’t feel that way at Manchester United, after losing 3-0 against Bournemouth at Old Trafford – a repeat result from last season’s Premier League meeting.
That was the latest blow in a difficult season for United, with Ruben Amorim’s side currently sitting 13th in the league table.
It doesn’t help that United have been unable to win back-to-back games in the Premier League, proving that we are just as inconstant as we were last season.
On another note, United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is not feeling very festive after axing the club’s Christmas party as part of his cost-cutting measures. This follows on from United’s decision to cut staff after announcing 250 redundancies as well as mid-season ticket price hikes.
Staff at United usually enjoy a Christmas party in the build-up to December 25, but not this year.
Hargreaves compares Christmas parties at Bayern Munich and Manchester United
Hargreaves spent four years at Old Trafford and was part of United’s double-winning team in 2008.
The former England international had initially come through the ranks at Bayern Munich before breaking into the first-team.
However, Hargreaves was shocked when he attended his first Christmas party after joining United in 2007.
Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Hargreaves explains how Bayern Munich went a step further to make Christmas parties special for the players and their partners.
It was very different at United.
“At Bayern they did a Christmas party right but they did it off the charts,” Hargreaves said.
“They’d invite the best singer in Germany, the best chef, cirque du soleil, all the missus’ were there. The president gets up and gives the wives a watch or a bag. A Rolex to say thank you for being so patient with your husbands.”
Ferdinand responds amazed: “You got a Rolex?”
Hargreaves continued with bemusement at how poor the Christmas parties were at United. Instead of singers and gifts, the players were brought to a nearby pub.
“I lived in the Lowry Hotel – a 500-metre walk. I walked in and said to myself: ‘I am not having one drink in here because this has gone pear-shaped.”
The fact Bayern Munich get a winter break means they have room to have more extravagant parties at Christmas than United, with the Premier League taking no break and hosting fixtures on Boxing Day.
Manchester United fans have one Christmas wish
Belief started to grow again after United’s 2-1 win over Manchester City.
Unfortunately, that belief was immediately crushed by heavy defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth.
All United fans want to see between now and the end of the season is better results. Is a bit of consistency from Amorim’s side too much to ask for?
So, let’s get Christmas Day out of the way and enjoy the turkey on offer. Boxing Day serves up a must-win clash against Wolves at Molineux.
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