On this day in 1999, Manchester United scored two goals in added time against Bayern Munich to win the Champions League and seal an unprecedented treble.
Sir Alex Ferguson won the Premier League, FA Cup and then Europe's premier club competition over a 10-day period - with the side still remembered as one of the greatest in the history of English football.
"But they never give in – and that’s what won it.” - Sir Alex Ferguson.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 26, 2020
Today marks the anniversary of that magical night in 1999 – Ole's injury-time goal won us the #UCL to complete the Treble.
History was made. ✨🏆🏆🏆✨ pic.twitter.com/nMlXqtDJyw
United's squad had a perfect blend of youth and experience. David Beckham, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and co. really came into their own, while the Red Devils had four great strikers in Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
But would you believe it, the strongest XI Ferguson was able to field only actually started once in the Premier League.
Amazing. The classic United treble XI - Schmeichel; Neville, Johnsen, Stam, Irwin; Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs; Cole, Yorke - actually only started one game together:https://t.co/yoQsdS9DME
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) January 27, 2018
That game was a 1-0 win over Coventry on 20 February 1999, where Ryan Giggs scored the winning goal.
Ferguson, the most successful manager in English football, was a master in squad rotation and so it wasn't just 11 players who contributed to that glittering, all-conquering campaign at Old Trafford.
Ronny Johnsen, the Norwegian centre-back, struggled with injury and so Henning Berg or David May would regularly deputise for him.
Moreover, Nicky Butt and Jesper Blomqvist got plenty of game-time in the season, while Fergie had the luxury of rotating his strikers because of the sheer quality he had up top.
Still, plenty of people's minds were blown by the surprise stat.
Can’t get my head round this.
— Si Lloyd (@SmnLlyd5) January 27, 2018
Struggling to believe this!!!! But I bet it’s true!!!! 😆
— #GlazersOut (@NatalieLUHG) January 28, 2018
Still trying to get my head around this.
— Neil Finnegan (@finneganyc) January 27, 2018
As mental as it is though, it seems there's a bit of a pattern with great sides rarely playing together - as it's also the case for United in 2007/08 and Arsenal's Invincibles from 2003/04.
source https://www.sportbible.com/football/news-the-mindblowing-stat-about-manchester-uniteds-treble-winning-side-20200526
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