He may have won 34 major honours in his 24-year career at Manchester United, but if you were to ask Sir Alex Ferguson about the three minutes of his managerial tenure that he most enjoyed, the chances are that he’ll take you back to 1999, to the Nou Camp, and to Bayern Munich.
It’s long since passed into folklore. Ferguson’s two substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored in stoppage time to wrestle the Champions League title from Bayern’s grasp.
The German club’s ribbons were already on the famous trophy if you believe the myth. A “B” was about to be carved into the side of it. United – who were dominated for most of the final – came from nowhere to win it. The reaction of Bayern’s defender Samuel Kuffour spoke volumes, he beat the ground in frustration at the sheer injustice of it all. Ferguson didn’t care.
“Football, bloody h**l,” said the Scot about the moment that would earn him his knighthood. Eleven years – and one more European Cup – on, he must be able see the path opening up to another final.
A good result in the first leg at Bayern’s Allianz Arena tonight, and the United boss will be smelling another trophy. Victory in the quarter-final will set up a semi-final clash with either Lyon or Bordeaux – a French test that Ferguson will expect to pass – before a potential Madrid final with probably either Barcelona or Inter Milan.
Bayern are second in the Bundesliga, but on paper are not in the class of United. They’ve got good attacking midfielders such as Bastian Schweinsteiger, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribéry, but Schweinsteiger is suspended tonight, Robben is a serious injury doubt and Ribéry has been eyeing the exit door for some time.
Miroslav Klose and Mario Gómez can score goals, but Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic have kept out better strikers in the past. Neither forward will be giving the centre back partners nightmares.
Ferguson will play it a familiar way in Europe tonight, with his line-up – in midfield at least – likely to echo the one that won 3-2 in the San Siro six weeks ago. He’ll pack the central areas, look to get it wide, and try and feed the hungry Wayne Rooney – rested at Bolton on Saturday – with quality ammunition.
He should get a good result ahead of the second leg at Old Trafford next week without having to rely on the late drama that was produced in 1999.
The manner of that success is likely to be unrivalled throughout Ferguson’s – and United’s – illustrious histories.
The two are intertwined of course, and luckily for United, Ferguson won’t rest until he’s created some more.
Tags: