champions league final - red11.orgred11.org/mufc/images/99/ecfinal/pdf/footballunltd.pdf ·...

27.05.1999

United claim the Treble

Fergie delight at Eurotriumph

Tributes pour in formagnificent United

Adams ruled out of euroqualifiers

D-Day for HammersUEFA Cup hopes

Tosh targets staying atCeltic

Champions League final

Bayern Munich 1 - 2 Man UtdManchester United sealed a historic Treble lastnight. That was predicted. But what could not havebeen foreseen was the manner of their victory. Twogoals in injury-time by substitutes TeddySheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer handed thema victory every bit as remarkable as their firstEuropean Cup at Wembley win 31 years earlier.Martin Thorpe reports.

Minute by minuteAll the action as it happened.

Five things you never knew about the EuropeanCupImpress you friend with your sporting knowledge, orsimply annoy them, by reciting our five facts about

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TV man Jim in picture forOxford

Irish slam Yugoslavia goahead

MacDonald refuses to addto Dalglish speculation

Deschamps hints atChelsea move

Last updated: 11:42 pm

the Champions final.

The Fiver

Naivety, Incredulity, and AgonyThe countdown to Big Cup ends here; anotherbroadcasting coup for MUTV; and Tony Adams getshis excuses in early.

Latest

Police read cup riot act to Old FirmStrathclyde's Chief Constable John Orr yesterdaythrew his considerable weight behind moves toensure that the television cameras from around theworld gathering for Saturday's Scottish Cup finalwould not be recording pictures to suggest thatGlasgow remains a mean city.

Adams to miss Euro 2000 tiesTony Adams has told the England manager KevinKeegan that he is not available for next month's Euro2000 qualifying matches against Sweden atWembley and Bulgaria in Sofia.

People

Valderrama leads the revolutionAt the age of 37 Carlos Valderrama, Colombia'sformer World Cup star might be expected to haveoutgrown his nickname of El Pibé - The Kid. But itseems as deeply-rooted as that extraordinary MrPastry hairstyle which, for hirsute eccentricity, ismatched in sport only by Don King's. Roy Collins onthe Colombian enigma now making waves inAmerican Major League Soccer.

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27.05.1999


Bayern Munich 1 - 2 Man Utd

Minute by minute

Five things you never knew aboutthe European Cup

The Fiver

Naivety, Incredulity, and Agony

Latest

Police read cup riot act to Old Firm

Adams to miss Euro 2000 ties

People

Valderrama leads the revolution

European Cup finalBayern Munich 1 - 2 Manchester United

Solskjaer takesTreble chanceUnited shatter Bayern with doublestrike in injury-time

By Martin ThorpeWednesday May 26, 1999

Manchester United sealed a historic Treble lastnight. That was predicted. But what could nothave been foreseen was the manner of theirvictory. Two goals in injury-time by substitutesTeddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaerhanded them a victory every bit as remarkable astheir first European Cup at Wembley win 31 yearsearlier.

Yet the start for United could hardly have beenworse. The game was merely heading towards thefifth minute when Bayern's giant striker CarstenJancker burst towards the opposing penalty areaonly to be unceremoniously brought down byRonny Johnsen's tackle some 19 yards out on theleft.

As the Germans loitered over the free-kick, Unitedarranged a long wall into which Markus Babbelinfiltrated.

As Mario Basler hammered his shot towards thecrimson sentries, Babbel appeared to peel offbackwards, taking the end of the wall with himand the ball fizzed around the defensive line withPeter Schmeichel, in his final game for United,left angrily rooted to the spot as it hit the net.

Neither the United players nor the fans could

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believe they were losing. After all the hope theyhad invested in this tie, was defeat going to be thereality? About half the giant bowl of the 90,000capacity Nou Camp wallpapered red by Unitedsupporters, a colourful backdrop made evenbolder by Alex Ferguson's starting line-up.

In the absence of the suspended Roy Keane andPaul Scholes, the United manager took a hugegamble in this, without doubt the most importantgame of his life, by risking David Beckhamalongside Nicky Butt in midfield.

The player constantly praised as the best crosserof the ball in Europe and prior to the game ratedby Pele as currently the third best player in theworld behind Rivaldo and Zinedine Zidane, hasfilled this central role hardly at all in his careerand just once this season - in last Saturday's FACup final.

But the move did not entail just one risk. Toaccommodate Beckham's switch, Ryan Giggs wasrelocated to an equally unfamiliar position on theright wing, and the squad player Jesper Blomqvistbrought in on the left.

Going a goal behind so early offered an evenstiffer test of the effectiveness of Ferguson's braveredesign. But slowly, as they have done so manytimes before, United worked their way into thegame.

Andy Cole bundled a shot under pressure justwide and Dwight Yorke met Beckham's ball to thenear post with a turn and shot which the Bayerngoalkeeper Oliver Kahn rushed to punch away.But the difficulty of United's task was frequentlyexposed. Beckham is great going forward butwhen, on 29 minutes he was naively dispossessedby Jens Jeremies just inside the Bayern half, theensuing counter-attack ended with AlexanderZickler shooting just wide of Schmeichel's goal.

Johnsen, preferred in central defence to midfield,proved an unexpectedly wobbly compatriot forJaap Stam, while Blomqvist was also fittinguneasily into the United reshuffle, not onlyleaving the left side virtually a cross-free zone butdirecting too many passes to players in grey.

But Ferguson's team were pressing for theequaliser even if they were not getting very far.The closest to a chance early on in the second halffell, actually, to Blomqvist, whose outstretchedfoot directed a deep cross from the right over thebar.

But Bayern's well-organised and quick-witted side



always remained a danger as United pushedforward. Not for the first time Jancker ranuninterrupted into the area only to see hisacute-angled shot shovelled away by Schmeicheland then Basler nearly chipped the keeper fromthe halfway line before Stefan Effenberg blastedjust wide from 25 yards and forced Schmeichel totip over from close range shortly after.

A United change was inevitable and on 67minutes the ineffective Blomqvist made way forSaturday's man of the match Sheringham. Andtwice Bayern could have stretched their lead asshots rebounded from the United woodwork.Bayern would regret those misses as they missed achance of their own Treble.

Manchester United (4-4-2): Schmeichel; GNeville, Johnsen, Stam, Irwin; Giggs, Beckham,Butt, Blomqvist (Sheringham, 67min); Cole(Solskjaer, 81), Yorke.

Bayern Munich (3-4-1-2) : Kahn; Linke,Matthaus (Fink, 80), Kuffour; Babbel, Jeremies,Effenberg, Tarnat; Basler (Salihamidzic, 88);Jancker, Zickler (Scholl, 71).

Referee: P Collina (Italy).










27.05.1999













From the Press AssociationWednesday May 26, 1999

Manchester United became the first English club towin the Treble after scoring twice in injury-time tobeat Bayern Munich 2-1 in the European Champions'Cup.

United trailed for nearly the entire game after fallingbehind to Mario Basler's sixth-minute free-kick.

But the most amazing finish in the competition'shistory, United levelled through substitute TeddySheringham when he shot on the turn from eightyards, then Ole Gunnar Solskjaer netted the winnermoments later.

Sheringham goal seemed enough to take the matchinto extra-time and a possible golden goal finish -but United were not finished.

David Beckham's corner was flicked on bySheringham and the other substitute, Solskjaer rifledthe ball into the roof of the net to spark incrediblescenes among around 40,000 United fans in the NouCamp.

United, without the suspended Roy Keane and PaulScholes, played Beckham through the middle withRyan Giggs on the right flank and Jesper Blomqvistsurprisingly given a start on the left.

But the ploy seemed to backfire after Basler'sfree-kick gave the German champions the lead andUnited were dominated for most of the game by aphysical Bayern side, with the 38-year-old LotharMatthaus directing things from the back.

Everything United tried seemed to end in frustrationbut Alex Ferguson refused to bring on fresh legsuntil 23 minutes from time when Sheringham cameon for Blomqvist.

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Bayern could have wrapped the game up whenfirstly substitute Mehmet Scholl hit the post and thengiant striker Carsten Jancker saw the ball bounceback off the bar from an audacious overhead kick.

But the goal United had been so frantically searchingfor came 40 seconds into stoppage time whenSheringham turned home substitute Solskjaer's shot.Then, unbelievably, two minutes later United wentahead when Sheringham flicked on Beckham'sfree-kick for Solskjaer to crash the ball home. It leftthe disbelieving Germans slumped on the floor - andwithin seconds of the restart, Italian referee PierluigiCollina blew the final whistle and United had wontheir second European Cup.



27.05.1999












Fergie delight at Euro triumph


Manchester United's amazing late fightback to stealthe Champions' Cup from Bayern Munich left AlexFerguson lost for words.

Substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole GunnarSolskjaer snatched victory from the jaws of defeatwith two last-gasp goals.

Bayern had led through Mario Basler's earlyfree-kick and the trophy Ferguson has longed forappeared to be slipping away from the United boss.

But United's super subs turned the game on its headleaving an emotional Ferguson to admit: "I can'tbelieve it. They never give in. It was fantastic andI'm so proud of my players."

Solskjaer savoured his winning goal deep into injurytime and insisted United deserved to get back intothe final.

"We had to score some goals after the pressure wehad," he said.

"It's unbelievable and it's very difficult to describehow I feel just now but if anyone still wonders why Istayed at Man United they can see here why.

"The team spirit is just unbelievable. Everyoneworks together and is in this together."

Ferguson was in a state of stunned disbelieffollowing the dramatic win.































27.05.1999












Tributes pour in for magnificentUnited


Jimmy Armfield admitted that fortune had played agreat part in Manchester United's EuropeanChampions' Cup success in Barcelona.

The former Leeds United manager, who sufferedEuropean Cup final defeat to Bayern Munich in1975, said: "It was incredible.

"I felt all along that their name has been on it and ifthey got one goal they would win it.

"Everything just happened for them in the space of10 minutes. They had a bit of fortune when Bayernhit the woodwork twice in a few minutes.

"But United got a break and that was what theyneeded. The changes Bayern made - taking Basleroff - backfired on them.

"But I felt all along that United's name was on thetrophy. It just showed how strong they are."

League Managers Association chief executive JohnBarnwell praised Alex Ferguson for hisachievements in guiding United to the Treble.

"It was absolutely breathtaking," Barnwell said.

"I am delighted for Alex and it was one of thegreatest sporting achievements.

"They showed resilience and two inspirationalsubstitutions. Alex must have the golden finger."































27.05.1999

Bassett named Barnsleyboss

Van der Saar joins Juve

Self-belief clinches Treblefor United

Jeffers wins Under-21call-up

United victory "thepinnacle" - Ferguson

Schmeichel keeps hispromise

Things can only get better- Giggs

Wright facing FA rap

Fans' pressure is keepingme at Ibrox - keeper

Lehmann ponders Scottishswitch


Things can only get better -Giggs

From the Press AssociationThursday May 27, 1999

Ryan Giggs reckons Manchester United are the bestteam in English soccer history, and he issued thiswarning to the chasing pack: "We can only getbetter."

Giggs emerged from the euphoric dressing rooms inthe Nou Camp stadium in the early hours of themorning after United had beaten Bayern Munich 2-1with his European Champions' League medal aroundhis neck and superlatives tumbling from his lips.

"I always said we would never be judged as a greatteam until we had won the Champions' League," saidGiggs.

"We've done that now and I think we deserve to beranked along with the Liverpool teams of theEighties. Hopefully this is just a stepping stone andwe can go on and dominate like they did.

"We've dominated over the last seven seasons in theleague. We had to take that next step in Europe andnow we have done."

And Giggs, one of the home-grown stars who hasblended with manager Alex Ferguson's big buys toproduce a squad unrivalled in British soccer,believes the present mix can become an even morelethal cocktail.

"We've got everything in our favour," said the25-year-old winger.

"We've got experience, we've definitely got theyouth in the team and now in winning this we've gotthe confidence that we can go on doing it.

"I think we can only get better. For key players like


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Jesper, Yorkey and Jaap Stam it's their first season,so hopefully they can go on and get better. We'vedefinitely got the spirit and the ability."



27.05.1999




Jeffers wins Under-21call-up






Lehmann ponders Scottishswitch


Self-belief clinches Treble forUnited


Jaap Stam claims Manchester United's indomitablespirit was the key to their sensational Champions'Cup victory.

Dutch defender Stam revealed that the players'incredible self-belief kept them going in the NouCamp even though all seemed lost as 90 minuteselapsed with United trailing Bayern Munich 1-0 inthe final.

They never gave up and got their reward whensubstitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole GunnarSolskjaer scored in stoppage time to turn the gameon its head and clinch a fantastic Treble.

"We have scored a lot of late goals at the end ofgames this season. We did it against Liverpool andwe've done it here. I just think there's no better spiritthan this," said Stam.

"We didn't think it was too much, although as theminutes passed by and you get to the end you thinkit's going to be difficult to get the equaliser.

"At the end we had to give everything to get thechance. We got the corner and everybody just wentup and tried to get the goal and we managed to get itin the 90th minute.

"We scored that goal and straight afterwards we stillfelt there was a chance for another one. We went forit again and we scored again, which was atremendous feeling.

"We knew when we scored the equaliser that the 90minutes had been played so we knew we would haveextra time, but this is far better than that.





























"We still have our unbeaten record of 33 matchesand we will try to keep that going next season aswell."



27.05.1999


Myhre breaks leg


Swede smell of successfor Jeffers








United victory "the pinnacle" -Ferguson


Alex Ferguson admitted nothing can top the Trebleafter Manchester United won a sensationalChampions' Cup Final to make football history.

United scored twice in stoppage time to beat BayernMunich 2-1 in the Nou Camp in one of the mostdramatic finishes to a game of football.

United are the first English side to win theChampions' Cup, Premiership and FA Cup in oneseason and boss Ferguson admitted they will neverbetter this achievement.

However, Ferguson dismissed any notion that theirhunger for success had been satisfied.

"You can't top this because this is the pinnacle," hesaid. "You can equal it and we can try to maintainour high standards.

"There is always going to be a question mark overthe team and me when you win a trophy like this. Alot will be written saying that we'll be taking it easy.

"That's true and I will take it easy - until we lose thefirst game! The players are made of somethingspecial and you saw that tonight. They will go onbecause I want them to go on.

"I just want to relish the evening - I want to let itsink in and understand what has happened out there.I haven't said anything to them yet and I was justhugging them and kissing them and slobbering allover them."


































27.05.1999

The Fiver is publishedMonday to Friday at 5pm

Thursday May 27

Wednesday May 26

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The Fiver is free. Toreceive it emailed to yourdesktop every weekday at5pm enter your emailaddress below and hitSubmit.

Football Unlimited's tea-time take on the world offootball

Champagne,Champagne andShanks painThursday May 27, 1999

"Football… bloody hell!" - Alex Ferguson, 26thMay 1999.

BIG CUP, BIG FUTURE

Thanks to the kind of finale the Fiver hasn'twitnessed since Granny Fiver put a stop to itssubscription of 'Roy of the Rovers', ManchesterUnited have at last got their hands on the trophythey wanted the most, the European BroadcastingUnion's Big Cup.

And who can deny them their success? They'veromped through the competition, matching andbettering all that the combined might of BayernMunich, Barcelona, Internazionale, Juventus, andLKS Lodz could throw at them. After thirteenyears, Alex Ferguson had finally achieved his holygrail: you couldn't stop him emoting, and let's faceit, who would want to?

Fergie's first nod was to United's founding father."Tonight it is Matt Busby's birthday and I amthinking of him," began Sir Alex. "He will bedoing a lot of kicking up there."

Suspended captain Roy Keane then received alittle love. "I felt for him," Lord Ferguson said. "I

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watched him and it was tough for him."

"You can't top this because this is the pinnacle,"continued an impassioned Fergster MBE. "Youcan equal it and we can try to maintain our highstandards. A lot will be written saying that we'llbe taking it easy. That's true and I will take it easy- until we lose the first game!"

But Fergie couldn't keep up the tough talk for longbefore his heart melted once again. "The playersare made of something special," announced KingLord Sir Alex Ferguson CBE MBE OBE, with apromise of more honours to come (but for who?)."They will go on because I want them to go on. Ihaven't said anything to them yet and I was justhugging them and kissing them and slobbering allover them." Let's just hope nobody gave him aglass of champagne, or goodness knows whatmight have happened.

"United can win this if they equalise" - Big RonAtkinson, with 88 minutes gone in the Nou Camp.

BIG CUP, BIG VIEWING FIGURES

Oh to have been in Barcelona last night. OrManchester. Or Munich (tee hee). What memoriesyou would have this morning. Thanks to thewonder of television however, at least 15 millionof us watched the match, thus ensuring that OleGunnar Solskjaer's toe-poke takes its place in thenational consciousness alongside umpteenmiserable penalty shoot-out defeats.

Less likely to enter the pantheon is the sight ofMicky Thomas pouring champagne over his ownhead, live on MUTV's frankly inspiredprogramme 'We're Watching the Match'.

As detailed in yesterday's Fiver, 'We're Watchingthe Match' brought the drama of Barcelona to theliving room by broadcasting a full-frame graphicof the score, and cutting to presenter MarkPearson whenever anything interesting happened.Pearson was watching the match on ITV (you seewhere the name comes from now), in the companyof 1968 European Cup-winner David Sadler,United legend Stuart Pearson (no relation), and theaforementioned Thomas.

According to Mark Pearson, things got "quiteunbelievable" in those 'interesting' two minutes atthe end of the game. Take it away Pears-o…

"It was unbelievable. The phone lines went crazy,it was a complete celebration for us. When Teddyscored we were expecting extra-time, but then Ole






popped up and scored to win it." (Thus saving theworld from another 30 minutes of that graphic.)"Micky poured champagne on his head, it wascrazy."

But do you think you conveyed the drama of thematch to those people who decided not to watchthe match but chose instead to watch 'We'reWatching the Match'?

"Absolutely, we always convey our passion forfootball, and Man Utd in particular, here atMUTV." Right. "It was unbelievable." Youmentioned that. The highlight of yourbroadcasting career perhaps? "Absolutely."

BIG CUP, BIG DISASTER

Obviously, the Fiver offers heartfeltcongratulations to His Imperial Majesty AlexFerguson, Manchester United and all of their fans.However, we can't go about pretending thateverybody will have been happy watching theirall-conquering antics - that'd be just daft. And itwould be completely remiss of us not to try tocheer up that particular breed of surly fan whosecretly (or maybe openly) wanted Bayern to win.

So we've come up with a little scheme.

You would think that every single member of theOld Trafford legion will today be floating oncloud nine. But surely, statistically, one or two ofyou United fans will be in deep despair.

Maybe you spent the duration of the final stuck onthe hard shoulder of a motorway waiting for abreakdown truck which was never going to arrive.

You could have missed the whole thing by fallingunconscious after imbibing one cold drink toomany. Or your friendly neighbourhood bobby mayhave slung you in the cooler after spotting youpartaking in 'high spirits' just before kick-off.

Perhaps you nipped off to the toilet just before theend, only to re-emerge to find that TeddySheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer havestruck, it's all over, and you had spent the mostdramatic and euphoric two minutes of your team'shistory staring at the word 'Shanks'.

Are you that fan? Or do you know of a Unitedsupporter whose Big Cup moment was sulliedforever? Email [email protected] withyour tale of woe and console a curmudgeon today!

NEWS IN BRIEF








West Ham's Ian Wright has been banned for threematches and fined £17,500 for damage caused tothe referee's room following his dismissal againstLeeds on May 1.

Dave Bassett is the new manager of Barnsley."The ambition is to get promotion - that's got to bethe first objective," said the 54-year-old formerWimbledon, Watford, Sheffield United, CrystalPalace and Nottingham Forest boss.

Dutch international goalkeeper Edwin van DerSaar has signed for Juventus. The Ajax keeper,who had been linked with Manchester United andLiverpool, will replace Internazionale-boundAngelo Peruzzi.

Everton goalkeeper Thomas Myhre has broken hisright leg in training and faces a fight to be fit forthe start of next season.

Southampton striker James Beattie will this weekundergo surgery on a long-term hernia injury.

TONIGHT'S TV AND RADIO

Sky Sports 1: Spanish Football (7.30pm, repeated1am)Real Madrid? Yesterday's men.

Sky Sports 2: Futbol Mundial (7pm, repeated11.45pm on Sky Sports 1)World football? What's that?

Sky Sports 3: Bobby Charlton's FootballScrapbook (10pm)Ah, that's better.

MUTV: Red Hot News: Barcelona Special (6pm,repeated ad infinitum)Actually, that's enough Manchester United for oneday.

News
























27.05.1999

Republic and West Hamwait on UEFA verdict

Wright handedthree-match ban

Leeds leading chase forDyer

'Cocky' Germans fired usup - Sheringham

Myhre's leg break misery

Bassett back in business

Liverpool tell Jones hecan go

East Stirling hailchampion Ferguson


Door opens for leaguenewcomers


'Cocky' Germans fired us up -Sheringham


Teddy Sheringham revealed the anger which sweptManchester United to their historic European Cuptriumph.

England striker Sheringham, who came off the benchto score one of the most important goals in the club'shistory, admitted it was the sight of the BayernMunich players arrogantly waving to their fans with25 minutes to go which fuelled the resolve forUnited's late onslaught.

And he also insisted that United's victory was downto a passionate half-time speech in the Nou Campdressing room by United manager Alex Ferguson,who sent his players out for the second-half with thewords "don't come back here if you haven't givenyour all" ringing in their ears.

But it was the arrogant wave of German strikerMario Basler which really got under the skin ofUnited's players and fired them up to fight on whenit seemed their unique treble was lost. That wasUnited's true motivation.

"I saw Basler walking over to take a corner wavingto his fans," said Sheringham, with a sneer whicheven more displayed his true feelings for the smugGermans.

"The Germans were getting very flash and a bitcocky and it was only 1-0. I was sub at the time and Iwasn't best pleased with Basler.

"It wasn't enjoyable watching that and it gives youmore of an incentive to try and change it round.Thankfully, it just makes it all the better for us."

It was a sentiment shared by United's £10million
































Dutch defender Jaap Stam, who said: "I couldn'tbelieve it when I saw them a couple of minutes fromthe end and they were all waving to the crowd likethey felt they had won it already. Of course whenyou see that you want to do everything to get theequaliser."

Now Sheringham believes United can go on todominate European football and said: "If you lookaround there are outstanding players all over thepitch who are number ones in their own countries.That's what makes a great team."



27.05.1999

Republic and West Hamwait on UEFA verdict

Wright handedthree-match ban

Leeds leading chase forDyer

'Cocky' Germans fired usup - Sheringham

Myhre's leg break misery

Bassett back in business

Liverpool tell Jones hecan go

East Stirling hailchampion Ferguson


Door opens for leaguenewcomers


East Stirling hail championFerguson


The club that gave Alex Ferguson his firstmanagerial job has joined in the chorus of praise forthe man who masterminded Manchester United'sChampions' Cup success.

It is almost 24 years since Ferguson was appointedmanager of the Scottish club, then in the old SecondDivision and now in the third flight.

Despite only staying three months in the post beforemoving to St Mirren, Ferguson has retainedconnections with the 'Shire' and is set to send a teamto Firs Park for a friendly sometime next season.

It will mark East Stirling's last season before theyground share with Stenhousemuir at Ochilview.

East Stirling chairman George Ronald said:"Everyone at the club is very proud to be associatedwith Alex and his achievement in winning theEuropean Cup.

"East Stirling gave him his first chance inmanagement because the people at the time thoughthe was a guy with a lot of get up and go.

"He was and still is very dynamic and full of goodideas, a class act.

"We were struggling near the foot of the old SecondDivision when Alex arrived, but he took us up thetable and gave us respectability, which was aremarkable achievement in itself.

"St Mirren spotted his potential and reluctantly weagreed to let him go. It has always been this club'spolicy that if a player or a coach gets a chance tobetter himself, we won't stand in their way."
































East Stirling chairman George Ronald said: "Wehave been speaking to Manchester United in the last48 hours and the signals we are getting is that Alexwill bring a team here midway through next season."



28.05.1999

Gunners swoop forUkrainian international

Bosnich for United -report

No final fling for Riseth

Teddy ready for Englandrecall

Brondby coach linkedwith Dons post

Rapturous homecomingfor United


Bayern Munich 1 - 2 Man UtdMartin Thorpe reports from the Nou Camp.

Minute-by-minuteAll the action as it happened.

No substitute for a killer instinctManchester United have won all that they havebecause, to the last, their hunters' instincts neverdeserted them, says David Lacey. All the while theycould scent a kill, Alex Ferguson's team were neverbeaten.

Germans find defeat hard to swallowThe city of Munich and the fans of Bayern Munichawoke yesterday from a bad Barcelona dream andstruggled to put the bitter scenes of the previous


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Kiely on road to Republicdebut

Great Dane Schmeichel'the best ever', saysFerguson

Best behaviour please,Old Firm fans are warned

Bassett: We'll go all outfor promotion

Last updated: 11:57 am

night behind them.

Celebrating an island's finest sonHow does Grace Yorke, mother on the most famousTobagonian, feel after a night of high drama onWednesday?

15m switch onA television audience of 15.5 million tuned in towatch Manchester United's last-gasp European Cuptriumph over Bayern Munich.

Ferguson savours night of dramaVivek Chaudhary hears Alex Ferguson's reaction toan astonishing match.

Beckham runs for gloryMartin Walker on United's man-of-the-match, DavidBeckham.

Drama at the death as United make historyJim White struggles to get his head round United'slate winner.

Fans spill out to dance at the feet of Sir MattThousands of jubilant supporters turned the centre ofManchester into a huge street party amid a sea ofemotion last night.

Germany's reaction to United's late, late showWhat the German papers are saying about BayernMunich's failure.

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Bob from Bolton will see you rightIf you didn't cash in on Manchester United's glamourtreble, there's still money to be made from theplay-off finals, writes Mike Hodgkinson.

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United set for £60m windfallIn one way, Manchester United have won theEuropean Cup a year early. Next season, with a newformat and financing, the victors could earn up to£60 million, which would help with the Old Traffordbalance sheet, under strain at the moment despitetheir reputation as the world's richest club.

Wright off lightly with short banIan Wright yesterday escaped with a three-match banand a £17,500 fine after his latest appearance in theFootball Association dock.

Leeds ready to bid £5m for DyerLeeds are believed to be ready to smash their recordtransfer fee to sign Ipswich's highly-rated wing-back
















Kieron Dyer.

People

Valderrama leads the revolutionAt the age of 37 Carlos Valderrama, Colombia'sformer World Cup star might be expected to haveoutgrown his nickname of El Pibé - The Kid. But itseems as deeply-rooted as that extraordinary MrPastry hairstyle which, for hirsute eccentricity, ismatched in sport only by Don King's. Roy Collins onthe Colombian enigma now making waves inAmerican Major League Soccer.











28.05.1999



Minute-by-minute

No substitute for a killer instinct

Germans find defeat hard toswallow

Celebrating an island's finest son

15m switch on

Ferguson savours night of drama

Beckham runs for glory

Drama at the death as United makehistory

Fans spill out to dance at the feetof Sir Matt

Germany's reaction to United'slate, late show

No substitute for akiller instinctAnalysis: Fighting spirit enabled Unitedto snatch historic win

By David LaceyFriday May 28, 1999

Manchester United have won all that they havebecause, to the last, their hunters' instincts neverdeserted them. All the while they could scent akill, Alex Ferguson's team were never beaten.

At Nou Camp on Wednesday night BayernMunich thought they had put the European Cupbeyond the range of United's shooting party. The12-bores looked empty, it was surely time to sendthe beaters home. That was Bayern's little mistake.One last rustle in the bushes, one final burst offire, and history had been made in seconds, havingbeen reduced to a distant hypothesis over theprevious hour-and-a-half.

Manchester United's completion of a uniqueTreble owes much to the recent rationalisation offootball's timekeeping. In a final of fewinterruptions nobody could have quibbled hadPierluigi Collina ended the match 30 seconds afterthe 90th minute, but the fourth official decreedthat three minutes remained and it is hard tobelieve that any team has ever made such gooduse of stoppage time in such momentouscircumstances.

Ferguson may well be knighted, just as MattBusby was after United won the European Cup in1968. Old Trafford supporters may feel it equallyappropriate should Her Majesty be moved todeclare: "Arise, Sir Edward" when the day ofinvestiture arrives.


http://www.footballunlimited.co.uk/News_Story/0,1563,53675,00.html (1 of 3) [5/28/1999 9:05:18 AM]
















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United set for £60m windfall

Wright off lightly with short ban

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Barely a year ago Teddy Sheringham was beingtalked out of England's World Cup team bycritical opinion keen to see Michael Owen broughtinto Glenn Hoddle's attack. Sheringham, it wasargued, was too one-paced. His time had comeand gone. So much for critical opinion. The factsare that in two cup finals in the space of five daysSheringham has come off the Manchester Unitedbench to score a goal, set one up, score anotherand set up another.

Roy Keane's injury had brought on Sheringhamearly against Newcastle at Wembley and within80 seconds he had scored. The need to reorganiseand end the misery of Jesper Blomqvist on the leftwing saw Sheringham recalled for the last 25minutes at Nou Camp and from the moment hecame on Bayern were presented with problemsthey had not encountered up to that point.

In the matter of substitutions Ferguson hasacquired the habits of a poker player enjoying arun of straights. Andy Cole came on to score thegoal against Tottenham which won thePremiership, Sheringham was the FA Cup final'sman-of-the-match, and within a minute of himscoring in Barcelona Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, whohad replaced Cole late in the game, had flickedSheringham's header into the roof of the Bayernnet.

This was a triumph of opportunism not tactics,team spirit rather than teamwork which, for once,had found United below par. While the victorywas the ultimate vindication of Ferguson's policyof rotating his side from a strong squad, there wasa point on Wednesday night when it all appearedto have gone horribly wrong.

The success Beckham enjoyed at Wembley oncehe had moved to central midfield after Keane'sdeparture persuaded Ferguson to keep him thereagainst Bayern. While Beckham's passing wasoften immaculate, the grip on Dwight Yorke andAndy Cole quickly established by Samuel Kuffourand Thomas Linke meant that much of it waswasted.

A situation was reached in which United hadBeckham, one of the modern game's mostconsistent crossers and who ultimately suppliedthe corners which led to the goals, making littleheadway through the middle while the full benefitof Ryan Giggs's natural left foot had been lostonce the Welshman had started the game on theright. All this compounded, rather thancompensated for, the loss of Keane and PaulScholes.







Had the shots from Mehmet Scholl and CarstenJancker found the United net instead of hittingpost and bar, Ferguson might now be the subjectof a post-mortem rather than an object of acclaim.For once, his faith in Yorke and Cole was not bornout, it was the spirit he has imbued in the Unitedteam overall which came to his rescue.

Bayern believed they could grind out a narrowvictory once Mario Basler's free-kick had giventhem an early lead. That they came so close wasdue primarily to superbly disciplined defending.Kuffour was entitled to his inconsolable tears atthe end.

Lothar Matthäus, watching from the bench as hisone remaining ambition disappeared, wore thelook of a man seeing his house slip into the sea.For years the Germans had won prizes withsubstitutes, now they had been beaten at their owngame just when they thought it was all over. Therehave been better European Cup finals than thisone, but never a better finish.










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Celebrating anisland's finest sonBack home Yorke helps give rum taleits happy ending

By Alex Bellos in TobagoFriday May 28, 1999

One might expect that being the mother of themost famous Tobagonian of all time entitles youto the odd flurry of excitement, but Grace Yorke isnot that type of woman.

While Dwight's brothers and friends werecelebrating his team's victory in the EuropeanCup, Mrs Yorke was more restrained, sitting inher kitchen and offering her own commentary. "Afew of the boys even cried," she said solemnly.Did she? "No," and she laughed, as if it weresomehow silly to take football that seriously.

Mrs Yorke still lives in the modest bungalow inRobert Street, Canaan, where Dwight grew up andthe day of the most important match in Tobago'sprodigal son's career started no differently fromany other, with the only sign of football frenzy inthe village being a Rastafarian sat by the barbershop wearing a Manchester United shirt with thenumber 19 on the back. The man was Chun, oneof Dwight's best friends, who was given the stripas a present. He guaranteed that the whole islandwas hyped up for the match, even if it didn't looklike it. "We are a Third World country. We are arelaxed people," he said.

Only family and a few friends were invited towatch the final at the Yorkes. His other schoolfriends went to Gymbuck's house a block away.Gymbuck was an ornithology student at WarwickUniversity when Dwight was at Aston Villa.


















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After a beer and rum infused start, the atmospheresunk when Bayern scored in the sixth minute andthings didn't improve until Teddy Sheringhamequalised 84 minutes later. They were stilljumping up and down and throwing beer overeach other when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sealed theresult - which prompted a horn beeping, two-carconvoy over to the Yorkes' place.

Champagne was popped open in Robert Street asfriends and family hugged each other and slappedpalms. "This is the greatest moment. It'sunbelievable to have a home boy playingEuropean soccer. We only have 40,000 peopleliving on this island. I still can't believe it," saidBevan, a contemporary of Dwight's at Bon AccordPrimary School. "Dwight's the best thing that hasever come out of Tobago," said Darren, anotherschool friend. "He's the best striker in the worldright now."

In Canaan, Tobago, few people would disagree.














28.05.1999

Sheringham handedEngland recall

Big guns must get biggerfor new Euro challenge -Wenger

United close in onBosnich

Quinn to captain Irish

Forest honour Clough

Taylor is new SFA boss

Todd gunning forPremiership

Taylor focusing ontop-flight future

Holloway gets surpriserecall

No final fling for Riseth


Rapturous homecoming forUnited

From the Press AssociationFriday May 28, 1999

Manchester United's history makers received atumultuous welcome when they paraded their threetrophies on their homecoming from Barcelona.

Supporters lined the streets from the airport to theMEN Arena in Manchester city centre as the Treblewinners showed off the European Cup, PremierLeague trophy and FA Cup.

The four-hour-long victory parade ended at theArena were the United players, management,backroom staff and directors received anear-splitting ovation from the 17,000 fans inside.

Manager Alex Ferguson strode into the Arenaholding aloft the European Cup, while PeterSchmeichel followed carrying the Premier Leaguetrophy and skipper Roy Keane brought in the FACup.

Ferguson said: "It's slowly beginning to hit homewith everyone and were all very emotional.

"We've had a terrific reception right from Salethrough the streets to here.

"It's just been a marvellous day and we have the bestfans in the world and an absolutely fantastic bunchof players."

Keane took the microphone and he said: "I think wedeserved to win all three trophies because we haveplayed some great football."

Departing goalkeeper Schmeichel, whose last act forthe club was to hoist aloft the European Cup afterUnited's sensational 2-1 victory over BayernMunich, said: "I've played for the best team in the


































world and I'll always remember you. Thank you verymuch."



28.05.1999



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15m switch onTelevision: One in four watch United

Friday May 28, 1999

A television audience of 15.5 million tuned in towatch Manchester United's last-gasp EuropeanCup triumph over Bayern Munich.

The figures, equivalent to one in four of thepopulation, peaked at 18.8 million at 9.30pm - justas Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaerscored two injury-time goals to hand their side theTreble.

An ITV spokeswoman said: "It was a phenomenalsuccess, by far the highest viewing figures for asporting event this year. Many people obviouslytuned in for the result and they got thattremendous grand finale as well."

The figures do not match the biggest-ever Britishaudience for a football match - that record stillbelongs to England's World Cup second-rounddefeat on penalties last year against Argentinawhich was seen by 23 million people.

Bookmakers throughout Britain, who offered100-1 against United doing the Treble at the startof the season, face an estimated pay-out of £10m.

Comparing it to the great Frankie Dettori disaster,a spokesman for William Hill said yesterday: "Ata time like this you just have to lie back and thinkof England."

Undeterred, the bookies are already offering 66-1against United repeating the Treble next season.

The United manager Alex Ferguson, 50-1 to begiven a knighthood a year ago, is now down to2-1.


















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28.05.1999



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Germans find defeathard to swallowReaction: Munich awakes fromBarcelona nightmare

By Ian Traynor in MunichFriday May 28, 1999

Stunned, tearful, and incredulous at theextraordinary Nou Camp finale, the city ofMunich and the fans of Bayern Munich awokeyesterday from a bad Barcelona dream andstruggled to put the bitter scenes of the previousnight behind them.

"OH NO," was the banner headline in Englishspread across the front page of the bestselling Bildtabloid, one of the few German newspapers tohold their front and sports pages late enough to getthe match reports into yesterday's editions.

"Simply unbelievable. Football can be so cruel,"said Bild beside a picture of the crestfallen Bayernmidfielder Stefan Effenberg.

Bayern fans who packed Munich's OlympicStadium on Wednesday night to watch the gameon giant screens wept openly after ManchesterUnited's two substitutes dealt the lethalinjury-time blow.

Germany's greatest ever footballer, FranzBeckenbauer, who is also the Bayern clubpresident and the country's roving World Cupambassador, described the result as the "cruellestdefeat of my life. I've never experienced anunhappier defeat."

He later sought to put things into perspective: "Wehaven't lost a fight, we haven't lost a battle, we


















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haven't lost a life. We've lost a match."

Beckenbauer's former national team-mate who isnow the most eloquent football pundit inGermany, Günther Netzer, said: "In all the timeI've been watching football, I've never seenanything so terrible. This will stay in the heads ofthese players for ever."

Bayern have already secured the Bundesliga andgo for the German Double in the national cup finalin Berlin in a fortnight. But naturally they hadtheir hearts set on the Treble and none more sothan Lothar Matthäus the veteran libero, who wasthe only Bayern player in the 1987 European Cupfinal lost to Porto, also by 2-1.

The Champions Cup is the sole medal missingfrom Matthäus's impressive collection and at 38he looks unlikely to get another chance.

Although he was one of the few Bayern players toapplaud United as they received the trophy, heimmediately tore off his runner's-up medal andwas inconsolable, according to Ottmar Hitzfeld,the Bayern coach.

Hitzfeld, who won the European Cup withBorussia Dortmund two years ago and looked setfor a glorious first season in Munich, said he feltdrained, but remained gracious rather thanembittered. "Manchester deserved the victory justas much as we did."

With four minutes to go on Wednesday night, thematch commentator on German television offeredthe following verdict on decades ofAnglo-German footballing rivalry: "Yet again inthe crucial game the English team has proveninferior to the German team."

A few minutes later he was spluttering asSheringham got the equaliser, and 103 secondslater he was struck dumb.














28.05.1999



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European Cup final

Ferguson savoursnight of dramaManager of the decade lets hisemotions do the talking

Vivek Chaudhary in BarcelonaThursday May 27, 1999

The history maker strolled in with a gentle smileon his face, a gold medal proudly hanging over asombre grey waistcoat, and appeared as stunned asthe rest of us at what had just passed.

Alex Ferguson, the manager of the decade, staredat the scores of journalists assembled before himand for once was a man of reflective rather thanfiery words.

"It's hard for me to take it all in," he said, winkingat a journalist he recognised and giving him aclenched fist salute.

"It's hard to take in what's happened," he repeated."But I'm very proud tonight, of my players, of myfamily and my heritage, for what they have givenme. It's the greatest moment in my life tonight."

If the match itself was not for faint hearts, thenFerguson's post-match press conference was notfor the hard- hearted. It was difficult not to feelthe emotion gushing through his words and thesense of pride beaming from his face was almostinfectious.

On reaching the 90-minute mark of the match,with the score at 1-0, Ferguson said: "I wasstunned, I was starting to adjust to losing thegame, I kept saying to myself keep your dignityand that it's not going to be your year.


















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"It's a fairy tale really, on Sir Matt Busby'sbirthday. Perhaps he's doing a little kicking forus," said Ferguson, giving a quick glance up to thesky.

Like the rest of us in Nou Camp, Ferguson said hehad few words to describe how he felt when thefinal whistle sounded. "I just could not take it in.It happened so quickly."

The man who last night made history confessedthat as his players danced around Nou Camp hewas completely lost for words for the red sentrieswho clinched the unique treble.

"I have not said anything to anyone. I have justhugged and kissed them. They know my feelings,they know what I feel for them.

"I feel for Roy Keane, I have watched himwalking around, he was gutted."

Ferguson said that in the end his team deservedthe victory but he never quite expected it to beachieved in that way.

He added: "I was prepared to risk. If you risk youdeserve to succeed in football. I felt withSheringham and Solskjaer they were always liableto score goals. They are goalscorers, that's whattheir job is. We rode our luck in the last 15minutes but that was a lot to do with the way wewere playing."

When asked if he could ever top last night'sachievement, Ferguson replied candidly: "Youcan't top that, it's the pinnacle. You can equal it,you can maintain your standards and pride, butyou can't top that."

The fiery Scot even had a smile and a few wordsfor a Manchester United fan who had managed tosneak into the press conference. Describing theteam's followers as fantastic, Ferguson gave athumbs-up salute to the fan and said: "This guy isunbelievable. How do you do it? Well, youdeserve it."

On the game in general Ferguson said: "We neverreally created the chances that we normally createbut we did try to win it. I thought that BayernMunich, once they scored, tried to shut the shopup. That's a dangerous game to play."

As United's fans made their way out of Nou Campand the players returned to the dressing room tobegin the post-match celebrations, Fergusonconfessed that he still had not decided how he







would mark the historic occasion.

He said: "I don't know how I'm going to celebrate.I just want to relish the evening. I want to let itsink in and understand what happened out there. Iam enjoying what is happening."

With a gentle smile he clinched his medal androse from his chair thanking those present for theirsupport. Some journalists rushed forward to shakehis hand while others applauded as Ferguson leftthe press room to join his players. The sense ofhistory was felt by all those present, and the manwho had just made it had left his mark on thosewho had heard him.

If Ferguson appeared stunned by the events, thenspare a thought for his German rival of the night.Ottmar Hitzfeld, manager of Bayern Munich, saidafter the match: "I think I will be able tounderstand this after I have slept a couple of days.

"It's really difficult to digest this kind of blow butwe can be proud because we have performed. Wewere totally surprised, it was inconceivable for usbut this is football and things like this happen. Thefuture will show how quickly we can recover."

As the two managers rejoined their players, onewas left feeling that it was not a night for wordsbut just pure emotion.










28.05.1999



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European Cup final

Beckham runs forgloryLap of honour for the long-distancesprinter

By Michael Walker

Thursday May 27, 1999

At the end he ran and he ran and he ran. If, asManchester United's assistant manager SteveMcClaren calculated, David Beckham coverednine miles of the Stadio Delle Alpi in thesemi-final against Juventus in Turin, then howmuch ground did he cover last night in thevastness of Nou Camp? Only this week Beckhamrevealed that he was the Essex 1500m championfour years running at school, but football,especially at this level, requires sprint after sprintafter sprint.

And yet no matter what part of the pitch Beckhamfilled - the centre circle, his area, the Bayernpenalty box, the right-wing and all four corners -no United player seemed to be on his wavelength.

Then Teddy Sheringham appeared. The moodshifted, Beckham shifted. In injury-time he turnedup on the left wing, rounded a silver grey shirt andflicked the ball to Denis Irwin, whose cross wasbooted out for a corner, probably a last corner.

All those years of practice, all those extra hours intraining when Alex Ferguson had to dragBeckham away from The Cliff, were boiling downto this. A poor corner and the trophy wasBayern's. But it was not poor, it was typically fastand accurate, Peter Schmeichel's not so jolly green


















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giant presence told and suddenly, a couple ofhalf-hit shots from Ryan Giggs and Sheringhamlater, the ball was in the Munich net.

That was one thing, but then to have a near repeatwith injury-time transforming into extra-time wasastonishing. Then again, though, Beckham wasdemonstrating the archer's art of the corner kickand under the most intense scrutiny. NowSheringham met this one almost as thrillingly asRoy Keane met another Beckham corner in thesemi-finals. Sheringham's header did not billowthe net as Keane's did but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer'svolley did.

The Germans had said that they feared Beckham'scrossing. How realistic those fears proved asSammy Kuffour, the only non-German in theteam, was left showing Teutonic angst as hepummelled the Nou Camp turf. Kuffour, inparticular, was deserving of his distress becausehe, along with Bayern's caveman of a midfielder,Jens Jeremies, did most to nullify the Beckhamthreat.

Jeremies was his shadow for long spells but thenfor 67 minutes, until the introduction ofSheringham, so were a few of Beckham'steam-mates. Beckham may have displayed theemotional maturity and natural ability to dictate aEuropean Cup final, but that does not mean he is areplica Roy Keane. Far from it, in fact. But hedoes complement Keane in a way that Nicky Buttdid not complement Beckham last night.

That was a symptom of United's problems: adomino effect caused by Keane's suspension.Beckham may be the genuine article as a top-classplaymaker but Giggs is no replacement for him onthe right. On the opposite flank Jesper Blomqvistis no Giggs and in the 67 minutes Unitedmaintained this formation there was little of thefluid attacking that has characterised their season.

Instead there was frustration typified on thehalf-hour when a swerving Beckham corner fromthe right evaded four static red shirts when surelyKeane would have met the ball on the run.Beckham was left cursing the Barcelona night airjust as earlier he had cursed Ronny Johnsen fornot anticipating aninswinging free-kick.

When Kuffour and Jeremies headed awaysecond-half corners Beckham must have swornagain. But at last Sheringham came on to giveBeck ham's passes a point and to change the night.

If only the footballers and journalists of Englandcould make a similar change. Both put pen to







ballot paper for the respective player of the yearawards when the season's silverware issues are yetto be settled and the denouement is often far fromclear. A sudden glorious run from Christmas toEaster can clinch them for one player over anotherwho has shown regular excellence since August.Hence David Ginola.

But, put all the players and writers in a room lastnight at the end of the 44-week marathon and ashow of hands would have revealed a sizeablemajority for David Robert Beckham. It is 331days since his red card in St Etienne and he hasplayed in all United's 29 away games. He hastaken the abuse; now he should be given the glory.










28.05.1999



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Drama at the deathas United makehistoryBy Jim White


How do you begin to describe this football match?How, in the crazy last few seconds, can it becomprehended? How, when every certainty isoverturned, every paragraph about Germansuperiority made suddenly redundant, can youquantify the incredible drama that sport alone canthrow up?

The bald facts are these: Last night ManchesterUnited last night became the first English side inhistory to win the treble, beating Bayern Munich2-1 in Barcelona to win the European Champions'League. But the manner of their victory was suchthat no one, not their manager Alex Ferguson, northe thousands of delirious English supporters, noteven the scriptwriters of Roy of the Rovers woulddare to suggest. With the stadium clock showing90 minutes, United scored not once but twice towipe out an early goal scored by Bayern Munichand take home the European Cup, the largest pieceof silverware in world football.

For most of the match they had been behind afterBayern scored from a free-kick and outclassedUnited, hitting the woodwork twice.

It was not until injury time that substitute TeddySheringham scored the equaliser after a scramblefollowing a corner.

Another corner led to the winner from Ole GunnarSolskjaer, with virtually the last kick of the match.


















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United manager Alex Ferguson said: "We nevergave in. It's fantastic. I'm so proud of my players."

It was an astonishing setting to host theastonishing climax to an astonishing season.Barcelona's Nou Camp, its stand steepling up intothe gloaming, oozed the kind of atmosphere thatcan reduce the most resolute of spines to jelly.And that was before the kick-off.

History was in the air all right: Bayern Munichand Manchester United were both striving tobecome the first football club from their countriesto win the treble of domestic league and cup andthe senior European trophy.

But to walk through Barcelona before the gamewas to assume only one team was in it. All day thecity had been turned into a suburb of Manchester.Tens of thousands of English fans had descendedon the place, many without tickets, just wanting tobe there, to marinade in the sun and beer, to beclose to history.

Everywhere in the Spanish city, Bayern Munichwere outnumbered, out-sung, out-enthused bytheir English counterparts. Except, that is, on thepitch. There it was the German players who madethe first claim for history, Mario Basler scoringwith a free kick in the fifth minute.

Despite the setback, United, being the team theyare, never stopped trying: David Beckham's longlegs galloped through the mid field, Ryan Giggsjinked and dashed, Andy Cole gave his all.

But German football teams are made of sternerstuff than the sides United are used to playing inEngland. Bayern's steel grey shirts seemed toreflect their determination. Until that is Fergusonsent on Teddy Sheringham and Ole GunnarSolskjaer to provide the climax no one couldbelieve.

So where does this leave United? Ferguson hasalways believed that a club's standing is measuredsolely by the accumulation of trophies.

By that measure, his team found a unique place inCatalonia. But those who have been priveleged tosee Ferguson's side this season, who witnessedtheir European triumphs in Italy, believe they haveben watching the greatest English team ever.Perhaps not the greatest individual players, but agroup of men enthused with a spirit that lifts thembeyond the ordinary, a team infected by theirmanager with a drive which will never say die.

And there is something else about them too. Back







in 1968, when United last won the European Cup,it was the culmination of their manager MattBusby's dream, it was about exorcising the ghostsof a team that died in the pursuit of the trophy,about completing a task curtailed 10 yearspreviously at Munich airport. They all went homeafter that triumph sensing it was over, the jobdone.

But for their successors this victory is just thestart. Ferguson has not strived for over a decade tostop here. So for poor Colin Shindler, who had abestseller telling the world that Manchester Unitedruined his life, there is more misery to come. Forthe thousands who loathe United, the future willconsist of nothing but standing up and hating ManU.

While he will have loved riding round the NouCamp on the shoulders of his players, next seasonit will be back to the old routine for Ferguson.










28.05.1999



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Fans spill out todance at the feet ofSir MattBy Daniel Taylor


Thousands of jubilant supporters turned the centreof Manchester into a huge street party amid a seaof emotion last night.

The remarkable finale to Manchester United'sunprecedented Treble sparked scenes of massdelirium with the realisation that the 31-year questfor the European Cup had finally been fulfilled.

Fans poured out of pubs and clubs to converge onthe city centre for a carnival more accustomed toRio than Rusholme. During the match the streetshad been deserted.

Traffic was brought to a standstill as fans youngand old danced in the streets to the unrelentingaccompaniment of sounding car horns.

The most innovative street vendors were sellingthe first merchandise bearing the words "EuropeanCup Winners - 1999".

At Old Trafford the poignancy of the occasionwas not lost as supporters draped their assortedparaphernalia over the statue of Sir Matt Busby,who was born 90 years ago to the day.

Police were forced to close off the surroundingstreets as the hordes made the Theatre of Dreamsthe focal point for their celebrations, queues oftraffic stretching for miles around.

"It's been the most amazing night of my lifetime,"


















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said Simon Clementson, a restaurateur andlifelong fan, who could not get his hands on acherished ticket for Stretford-on-Sea 2,000 milesaway.

"I've never seen celebrations like it but then againI've never seen a match end like that."

Later today the scenes will be repeated when theUnited team parade all three trophies on anopen-top bus parade organised at short notice afterinitially being cancelled because of safetyconcerns.

An estimated 500,000 people are expected tocontinue the party.














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'Can football reallybe so brutal?'German reaction to ManchesterUnited's late, late show


Rheinische Post

"Can football really be so brutal? I cannpt find thewords.. I find it hard to describe." SteffenEffenberg was speechless after Bayern Munich's2-1 defeat by Manchester United in theChampions League Final. So were his team-mates.

Up to the 90th minute, Bayern had done the joband their dream was almost a reality... Then camewhat had to come: Manchester United created theincomprehensible and turned it around in injurytime. Within 102 seconds, Teddy Sheringham andOle Gunnar Solskjaer destroyed Bayern's dreams.Whilst the English rejoiced, the Bayern playerswere distraught and in tears.

Suddeutsche Zeitung

Franz Beckenbauer, usually so optimistic, saidthat the shock of this 1-2 defeat would notevaporate on Thursday: "The worst day," saidBeckenbauer, "is the day after." It was written allover the players' faces, as if they had received anenormous blow: their trophy taken away.

"Football can be so cruel. I did not experiencesuch a cruel defeat ever. The game was almostover, the Cup was almost ours."

Coach Ottmar Hitzfeld reflected on missedchances: " Had we not twice hit the post, wewould have gone home as winners from the


















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stadium. Manchester earned the victory exactlylike Bayern. We can leave with our heads raisedhigh from the stadium. But I am bitterlydisappointed."

Bundesliga (TV Today)

Approximately 40,000 fans of Bayern were leftspeechless and shocked in the streets of Munich,after the defeat of their team in the last minute ofthe Champions League Final in Barcelona. Withfree beer and almost cloudless evening sky onWednesday, the Bayern fans had watched thegame on the big screen at the Olympic Stadium.

The fans witnessed Manchester United score twoinjury-time goals. "That was unfair", was theunanimous tenor. Numerous fans had tears in theireyes or struck their hands on their faces.














champions league final - red11.orgred11.org/mufc/images/99/ecfinal/pdf/footballunltd.pdf ·...

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