Final decisions

By Pete Reilly Source:Global Times Published: 2020/5/28 16:03:40

Ferguson’s bespoke solutions for big games


Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær Photo: VCG

 

May 26, 1999 is a date that will live long in the ­memory of Manchester United fans. 

There are those that can claim "I was there," but all of them will know where they were for the UEFA Champions League final against Bayern Munich in Barcelona.

Both the opposition and the host city were familiar to Alex Ferguson's players and staff for that date with destiny - they had faced Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona in the group stage, essentially securing their progress at the Camp Nou in the penultimate group game.

What was not familiar was the starting lineup for Manchester United's biggest game for 31 years, when Sir Matt Busby's team took on Benfica in the 1968 European Cup final at Wembley.

A combination of injury and suspension meant that Ferguson had to name a starting lineup that had never played for the club before - and would never do so again.

The defense was almost full strength. Peter Schmeichel started in goal as he did most games, captaining this one in the absence of the suspended Roy Keane. Gary Neville, the only player to start and finish United's last 10 games of the season, was at right back - he would finish having completed the full 90 minutes of the final 28 games of the historic season.

Central defense was Dutchman Jaap Stam and Norway's Ronny Johnsen next to him. Johnsen's countryman Henning Berg had missed out through injury. Ireland defender Denis Irwin had his customary left back berth.

Midfield was a different kettle of fish, entirely. With Keane and Paul Scholes suspended, there would be two new men in the middle: Nicky Butt and David Beckham. The latter had proved to be the candidate for a central berth after a reshuffle in the stroll past Newcastle United in the FA Cup final four days earlier. To make matters even more unfamiliar, Ryan Giggs would play on the right wing with Jesper Blomqvist taking the Welshman's usual role on the left.

Up front were Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke, the two strikers who established themselves as Ferguson's first choice over that season.

Comeback goals

The game would be won in the most dramatic of fashions: Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would mark their names in folklore from the bench with the comeback goals.

Ferguson would again pick ­another starting XI that had never started before and never would again when the team finally made it back to the showpiece in Moscow in 2008, where they would face fellow English Premier League side Chelsea.

Scholes was guaranteed a starting spot for missing out nine years earlier, while the team was close to the one that had beaten Wigan Athletic to ensure the club won the Premier League.

England international Owen Hargreaves came in to replace South Korea's Park Ji-sung, thus denying him the chance to become the first Asian in the UEFA Champions League final. Park, who had played both semifinals, did not make the substitute's bench in a decision that Ferguson has expressed regret over.

Dutchman Edwin van der Sar was the goalkeeper, and in front of him were the familiar faces of academy product Wes Brown at right back and France's Patrice Evra at left back. In between them were the center back pairing of Serbia's Nemanja Vidic and England's Rio Ferdinand.

The four-man midfield was Cristiano Ronaldo, the future Ballon d'Or winner playing in first major European final, alongside the England trio of Scholes, Michael Carrick and Hargreaves. Up front, Wayne Rooney and Argentina's Carlos Tevez.

As in Barcelona in May 1999, it was 4-4-2 for Ferguson's side and there was a winger on the wrong side - Ronaldo playing on the left instead of the right. And, just like in Barcelona, the subsitutes would have an impact.

Vital penalties

Ryan Giggs, Anderson and Nani all scored vital penalties in the shootout - the latter two coming in sudden death after John Terry had hit the post after slipping during the run-up. After Nani beat Cheslea goalkeeper Petr Cech, Van der Sar pushed Nicolas Anelka's effort wide and United were Champions of Europe for the second time in nine years.

It was not to be three times in a decade though, despite Ferguson trusting his tried and true technique of a team that had never played again and would never do so again.

This time it was Pep Guardiola's Barcelona in Rome but there would still be injury and suspension to deal with.

Scottish midfielder Darren ­Fletcher had been sent off in the semifinal agaisnt Arsenal and despite an appeal - backed by Guardiola who was missing Dani Alves and Eric Abidal through suspension - the decision was upheld.

Injuries in the weeks leading up to Ferguson's third Champions League final with United had put defenders Wes Brown and Ferdinand in doubt, though they were confirmed fit to play, unlike Ben Foster, with the second-string keeper undergoing surgery on his thumb.

The injured Hargreaves would miss out while Park was promised a start after missing out so cruelly the year before. Also promised a start was John O'Shea, the Irish utility player who had scored away at Arsenal in the semifinal.

O'Shea came into the back four of the previous final at the expense of Brown - who would miss out entirely - with the defensive line and goalkeeper Van der Sar otherwise unaltered.

In midfield, Ferguson opted for three rather than four: 2008's shootout hero Anderson, Carrick and a return to the starting XI for a Champions League final for Giggs.

In the final three of the 4-3-3 formation were Park, Rooney and Ronaldo - in what would be his final game for the club before moving to Real Madrid in the summer.

Despite throwing Bulgarian forward Dimitar Berbatov, Scholes and Tevez on from the bench as they tried to claw back a 2-0 deficit there was to be no third miracle for Ferguson in Rome that night.



Posted in: SOCCER

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