MANCHESTER UNITED FC 1999

8/6/2019 MANCHESTER UNITED FC 1999

1/19

Who was United's manof the match in the

Champions Leagueinal?

Peter Schmeichel

Ryan Giggs

David Beckham

Teddy Sheringham

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Other

PERFECTION!

Try and write a betterscript if you can. MattBusby's 90th birthday,Peter Schmeichel's finalmatch for United, the firstEuropean Cup final since1968. One-nil down withliterally seconds to play.Two goals in a minute.United win in real Roy ofthe Rovers style. Anabsolutely wonderfuloccasion, ending with theperfect result for United.We've won thePremiership, the FA Cupand now the Big One, theEuropean Cup. Treble

trophy triumph. Top that ifyou can! You can't!

ON TOP OF THE WORLD

What a game! What a

result! Manchester Unitedrounded off their incredibletrophy treble with astunning win over BayernMunich in the Nou Camp.The Premiership, FA Cupand European Cup are allours. History is ours. Willanyone ever be able tomatch this unbelievablefeat? Hats off to the team,the coaching staff, and ofcourse, the fans. You've all

played your part in the bestseason ever. Enjoy!

MATCH REPORT

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GO TO FORUM

Who was United's manof the match in theChampions Leagueinal?

Peter Schmeichel

Ryan Giggs

David Beckham

Teddy Sheringham


Other

26-May-1999

UEFA Champions League Full Time

Bayern Munich 1 2 Manchester Utd.

The Teams Opposition Statistics

Match Preview Half Time Report Full Time Report

CROWN CLINCHED INFANTASTIC FINISH

Look up the word "occasion" inany dictionary - English,German or Spanish, and youshould see a picture of the NouCamp stadium, taken in theminutes before kick off in the1999 European ChampionsLeague final.

To say it's big is to damn it withfeint praise. The European Cupfinal. On what would have beenSir Matt Busby's 90th birthday.Peter Schmeichel's last gamewith the club. At the Nou Camp,Barcelona. It couldn't be biggerif it tried.

A fantastic stadium, an incredible atmosphere, and the biggestgame in club football to look forward to. If you could bottle this

feeling, you'd make a fortune.

But back down to earth. When the team sheets were passedaround, the name of Jesper Blomqvist was on everyone's lips.Many column inches have been filled recently speculating howAlex Ferguson would fill the midfield gap left by the suspendedRoy Keane. In the end, he did the unexpected, which, ironically,we should have expected.

David Beckham recovered from the knock he picked up intraining, and moved into centre midfield while Blomqvistpatrolled the left flank, moving Giggs to the right. Despite his

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match winning performance on Saturday, there was no placefor Teddy Sheringham in the starting eleven, the resurgentEngland man having to be content with a place on the benchalongside David May, who many expected to fill in atcentre-back. With Ronny Johnsen not being deployed inmidfield, he was not needed.

The Bayern team came as no surprise, largely because OttmarHitzfeld named it 48 hours ahead of the match. A supremeshow of confidence, or an act of gross stupidity. Only time

would tell.

A spectacular, colourful opening ceremony got the eveningunderway, with dancing girls, inflatable statues and loud musicgetting proceedings off to a lively start. I wouldn't like to thinkwhat Sir Matt would have thought about it all, but it certainlyheightened the party atmosphere within the ground.

Monserrat Cabelle, the opera singer, made probably not themost graceful entrance of her career, on the back of a truck, toserenade the crowd with a rendition of "Barcelona." Then thefootball, never in danger of being overshadowed, started. The

roar that greeted the teams was something to behold. This iswhat we were here for.

The first event of the match was a free-kick awarded to Bayernafter Jancker was felled on the edge of the area by Johnsen.The Bayern fans called for a penalty, but the Italian referee wassure it was outside the box.

It did not matter to Mario Basler. Just outside the box, he strucka sweet shot that curled past Peter Schmeichel on his left handside and into the net. 1-0 to Bayern after just five minutes. Butweve been here before. Don't panic.

That is what Schmeichel seemed to do just two minutes later. Amisunderstanding with Johnsen almost let Jeremies in, but theDane got himself out of trouble with a hasty clearance.

Bayern chances were coming thick and fast, and Basler put in agreat ball to Zickler in the ninth minute. A well-timedinterception took the ball to safety. Nervous times.

United's first real chance came in the 14th minute, when JaapStam rose well to head the ball on to Cole. The striker lost theball at his feet, but fortuitously regained it, and got off a shotthat looped off a defender's boot. The whole stadium watched

as the ball, almost in slow motion, passed just wide of Kahn'spost.

Effenberg did well in the 16th minute to create a chance forJeremies, but the German international did not get a propershot off, and Schmeichel saved comfortably.

Kahn had to be at his best in the 20th minute, when Andy Colemotored into the area, and got up well at the near post. He metBeckham's corner with his head, close in on Kahn, but thegoalkeeper did well to punch clear.


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United began to put some of the pressure back on theGermans in the following six minutes, culminating in a goodmove involving Butt and Giggs. Butt received the ball on theedge of the area, shimmied, trying to make a yard of space forhimself, but his touch was too strong, and gifted the Bayerndefence the ball.

Zickler had a shot from distance after Beckham has beendispossed by Jeremies a minute later, but his shot went wide ofa diving Schmeichel.

United just needed a change in luck. They were making all theright moves, but the final ball was more often than not cut out,or a weak shot came at the end of a good move. That was wellillustrated when Giggs broke with pace down the right,delivered a good ball to Yorke, only for his shot to take adeflection, which took all the sting out of it.

United were on the back foot again in the 36th minute, whenBasler made a darting run towards the area. Butt tackled well,but the rebound fell to Zickler. He tried hard to get a shot in, butwas tackled before he could do so.

Beckham struck a good free kick from 30 yards with fiveminutes to play, but Kahn just watched as it curled wide of hisright-hand post.

Giggs almost broke through in the 42nd minute, but thethroughball was just too weighty, and Kahn claimed at thewinger's feet. That summed up United's frustrating halfperfectly.

Panic almost set into the United defence in the dying momentsof the half, as all three Bayern strikers converged on goal.Johnsen kept calm to bring the ball clear.

No changes were made at half-time. Maybe the change of endswould suit United, attacking towards their own fans.

Bayern started as they had finished - pressurising. Matthausplayed a sweet ball through to Jancker, and Schmeichel gotdown well to put the German's opportunistic toe-poke out for acorner.

A comedy of errors ensued in the 50th minute, when Buttstooped to head back Irwin's throw-in. The defender's resultantback-pass to Schmeichel put the keeper in trouble, and his

clearance was blocked by an onrushing striker. Fortunately, itrebounded to safety. Still no improvement from the first half.

Giggs pounced on a loose ball in the 53rd minute, and crossedfor Yorke. Linke got his head in first, however, and nullified thethreat.

Blomqvist had United's best chance of the match so far, whenGiggs again broke free on the right. His pinpoint cross onlyneeded the slightest touch to be diverted into the goal, but theSwede got under the ball, sent it flying high over the bar, andwas left holding his head in his hands, prone in the Bayern six




7/19

yard box.

Effenberg was booked in the 59th minute for a tackle frombehind on Giggs.

Mario Basler attempted a Beckham-like shot from just insideUnited's half in the 63rd minute, seeing Schmeichel off his line.The shot was just too strong, however, and sailed overSchmeichel's bar.

24 minutes to go, and Teddy Sheringham was introduced inplace of Jesper Blomqvist. His arrival was greeted by the crowdsimilar to that of a prodigal son. Yorke dropped off the twostrikers, in search of space, and more importantly, the ball.

Gary Neville's throw-in in the 68th minute saw Yorke touch it onto Cole, whose attempted bicycle kick did not come off, sendingthe ball away from goal.

Mehmet Scholl came on for Bayern in the 70th minute,replacing Alexander Zickler.

In the next minute, Effenberg struck a great shot from wayoutside the area, but the rocket flew just wide of Schmeichel'sleft hand post.

Jancker and Effenberg combined well with 72 minutes on theclock, and Schmeichel had to pull off a world class, fingertipsave to deny the midfielder.

Basler made another great run with 12 minutes to go, and setup Scholl on the edge of the area. His little chip beatSchmeichel all ends up, and came back off the post. Unitedbreathed again.

Lothar Matthaus was replaced by Thorsten Fink with 10minutes to go.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer came on for Andy Cole a minute later.United forced a couple of good opportunities, but the Bayerndefence held firm.

Schmeichel saved well again in the last eight minutes, turningaway Babbel's shot for a corner. From the corner, Jancker'sathletic overhead shot rebounded off Schmeichels crossbar tosafety. Twice had the woodwork come to United's rescue. Thattells its own story.

Sheringham almost performed the heroics again after being putin by Solskjaer, but his shot was weak and presented Kahn withno problems. A minute later, Yorke missed the ball completelyafter Beckham's little touch in the area.

One minute to play, and Sheringham came to United's rescue.Beckham's corner fell to Butt on the edge of the area, he shotand Teddy deflected the ball into the net. Unbelievable. 1-1.

Better was still to come. Another Beckham corner. AnotherSheringham touch. This time Solskjaer hooked it in. Two goals




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Wed 14/0419:45

FAC Arsenal 2-1

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CL Juventus 3-2

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CONGRATULATIONS TOTHE CHAMPIONS OFEUROPE!

106 MESSAGES

GO TO FORUM

Who was United's manof the match in theChampions Leagueinal?

Peter Schmeichel

Ryan Giggs

David Beckham

Teddy Sheringham


Other

KING OF EUROPE

Thursday, May 27, 199911:47

Everyone in football wentthrough the gamut of emotionsin the final minutes of theEuropean Cup Final inBarcelona. But surely nobodycould have felt the strain quiteas much as the two managers.

One minute, Alex Fergusonwas writing a gracious defeatspeech, while Ottmar Hitzfeldwas reciting his Germanvictory lines. The next, theycould have swapped theirscripts. That's how quickly atriumph was snatched from the jaws of defeat by magnificentManchester United.

"After ninety minutes, I kept saying to myself that I should keep

my dignity and accept defeat, but football's a funny game," saidan elated Ferguson. "It was a fantastic finish - almostunbelievable.

"I really thought we were beaten with two minutes left, especiallyas Bayern had chances to score further goals. But we showedthe values of keeping going and never giving up. We threweverything into the final stages. That's football - the game isnever over until the final whistle."

Bayern Munich coach Hitzfeld now has the unenviable task oftrying to lift his players' spirits for a domestic Cup Final next

month. The German Champions were understandably shatteredby what happened in injury time when so many of them hadbeen thinking about the medals they were about to collect.

"Losing like this is tragic. But I think we'll get over it, we can'tchange anything," said Hitzfeld philosophically.

"I congratulate Manchester United for winning the trophy. Theynever gave up and they deserved to win the ChampionsLeague. I feel very sorry for my team, but the players can still gohome with their heads held high because of what they haveachieved this season."

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TROPHIES ON DISPLAY

TEDDY BACK IN ENGLANDSQUAD

KING OF EUROPE

PETER THE POSITIVE

MORE TOP STORIES

WHAT A KNIGHT!!

Arise Sir Fergie...

England will very shortly saluteManchester Uniteds Grand Slam oftrophies, which reached a peak in thedramatic last-minute European victorysnatched from Bayern Munich in

Barcelona, with the ultimate honour for their manager.

Alex Ferguson is sure now to be knighted in the Queensbirthday honours, if not next month, then in Her Majestys NewYear list to mark the next millennium.

This is the only logical step for the country to take toacknowledge Alex Fergusons domination of English football forthe last five years climaxing this season with the treble ofLeague Championship, FA Cup and now the EuropeanChampions League trophy.

Alex Ferguson has taken Manchester United to the pinnacle tojoin the legendary Sir Matt Busby and ranks among the greatfootball managers of all time.

Early in the season Ferguson dismissed the dream of a trebleas unrealistic but under his guidance his team gatheredmomentum to clinch the League from Arsenal by a point, crushNewcastle United at Wembley in the FA Cup and now provethemselves super-human by snatching victory from the jaws ofdefeat against Bayern to claim the club championship ofEurope.

Its the greatest day of my life, said the delighted managerafter the match, still flushed not just by the triumph of victory butthe drama which saw his team turn the game upside down inthe time added on for victory to emerge with a 2-1 win aftertrailing from just the fifth minute to a goal scored by MarioBasler.

The clock was already showing 90 minutes when Sheringhamnipped the ball in and then Solskjaer lashed home the winnerthree minutes into injury time.

Basler, who had been substituted by the Germans just a minute

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from the end of normal time, was feted as he left the field by hiscoach and his team-mates on the bench as the scoring herowho looked to have won the match for Bayern.

But then like the rest of the Bayern team he watched helplesslyin utter amazement as United stepped up the pressure for theirsuper subs to sink the Germans.

It was a victory for Uniteds never-say-die spirit and their refusalto accept a defeat which was staring them in the face.

It is arguably the most sensational finish at this level in thehistory of English football and it was impossible not to feel atwinge of sympathy for the Germans after looking to have thegame won.

As goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel said after playing his finalgame for United before seeking pastures new: Of course youhave to feel a little sorry for Bayern in that situation but thatsthe beauty and cruelty of football.

Ferguson was not in the mood to feel so sympathetic.

We were the team trying to attack all the time. Nobody candeny that our team plays with a spirit to attack and will to win.We were prepared to take risks and in football when you areprepared to be like that, you deserve to succeed.

We rode our luck in one spell when they hit the post and thebar but towards the end they were tired out. I am so proud of myplayers and my heritage.

This is the greatest moment of my life, he declared.

Fortune favours the bold, and it favoured United after they madea dreadful start with a mix-up that let Basler in to score with afree kick which he guided around the defensive wall.

Even allowing for the shock and distress of conceding such anearly goal, United werent playing particularly well. Beckhamcertainly justified his midfield role, at times carrying the teamsattacking responsibility single handed, and looking every inch aninspiration.

But as a team they were underperforming. United eventually gottheir game together but they still didnt look like scoring. Thatwas the signal for Ferguson to step into the action with his

master plan involving the use of substitutes.

With 23 minutes to go he put Sheringham on for Blomqvist andwas rewarded by Andy Cole trying a spectacular overhead kickwhich flew wide. United were dominating now but in theireagerness to push up in attack they were leaving their defenceexposed.

It took a great save by Schmeichel to push a chip from StefanEffenberg over the bar and every United fan gulped with reliefwhen substitute Mehmet Scholl hit the post after a piercingmidfield run by Basler.


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18/19

But still no goal for the Reds so Ferguson ordered up anothersubstitute with Solskjaer on for Cole and even bigger gapsappeared in the United defence. Schmeichel made another finesave from Scholl, this time diving full length to push the shotround his post, and two minutes later the woodwork saved themagain.

Carsten Jancker blazed against the bar, and by this timeFerguson, as he later admitted, was ready to accept defeat.

I started to adjust to losing the game. I was reminding myselfthat the important thing in defeat would be to keep my dignityand accept that it was just not our year, he explained.

His players, though, were not ready to accept defeat and in thelast few minutes, especially in the injury time allowed by Italianreferee Pierluigi Collina, they flung themselves forward.

They won a corner which brought Schmeichel pounding up intoopposition territory to try and get on the end of Beckhams kick.He said later he was trying to cause some confusion and thats

exactly what he did as Giggs helped the ball on for Sheringhamto sweep home in a repeat of the rescue act he performed in theFA Cup Final against Newcastle after coming on as a sub.

Now the game seemed to be heading for extra time and thepossibility of a golden goal decider. Coach Steve McClaren hadstarted to talk tactics with Ferguson for the extra half-hour, butthe players had other ideas.

They forced another corner which this time was helped on bySheringham for Solskjaer to hit into the ceiling of the net.

And so to an unbelievable 2-1 victory summed up the next dayby a Spanish newspaper under the headline which read,Increible.

Thats incredible in anyones language as they went on toexplain that it would be a minute which would pass into history.

And so it will with United supporters convinced that Sir MattBusby, who would have been celebrating his 90th birthday onthe day of the match, had somehow influenced the outcome.

The man hailed as the founding father of United died five yearsago but the fact that his birthday fell on the day of the European

Cup Final seemed somehow quite appropriate.

Even Ferguson said: I think Sir Matt must have been kicking forus up there tonight.

Its certainly not difficult to imagine Busby, the man who lastwon the European Cup for Manchester United in 1968, smilingdown on the fellow Scot taking his club to fresh glory.

A succession of managers tried and failed to conquer Europebut now 31 years later Alex Ferguson has emerged from theshadow cast for so long by the Busby legend.




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And so have his players who can now take their place in theclubs history free of comparisons with the boys of 68.

Several of the stars of the team that beat Benfica to become thefirst English club to win the European Cup watched the game inthe Nou Camp stadium as guests of United and they were asthrilled by the success as they were when they celebrated theirown triumph.

As Jack Crompton, the coach of the Sixties team said: Im gladFergusons players have done it. They have matched what wedid and they can now go forward instead of comparisonsconstantly making them look back over their shoulders.

For United followers like me who span both games it was afantastic feeling to see the great European feat achieved againa long 31 years later.

Winning the European Cup in 1968 had its own special emotionbecause Busby, Sir Bobby Charlton, Harry Gregg and BillFoulkes had all survived the Munich air crash and they were

inspired by the memory of those who had died.

They made no secret of the fact that winning in Europe was atribute to those who had gone. They were also a team on thepoint of breaking up because their careers were behind them.

Fergusons players are a much younger team with their futuresahead. The football world lies at their feet and its a joy to seethem taking Manchester United to fresh heights.

Thousands turned out to pack the streets of Manchester andwelcome home their returning heroes the evening after thematch. They sang and shouted themselves hoarse because,like me, they know they had experienced, be it in Barcelona oron television, one of the great sporting occasions of our time.[28.05.1999 11:13]

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