From: P.L.Hinson@ais.salford.ac.uk
To: 
Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 11:22:44 +0000
Subject: [MufcDailyNews] {MufcDailyNews Thu May 27 1999 )

From: P.L.Hinson@ais.salford.ac.uk

www.red11.org DAILY NEWS Thu May 27 99 ** European Champions **

This Issue:
1  The road to European Glory. 
2. United Shatter Bayern (Guardian)
3. Magnificent Obsession (Times)   
4. Wondrous finish covers up tactical frailties (Telegraph) 
5. Terry Dale's TV Report
6. Subs Standard Proves United's Class  (365)
7. Soccernet Report
8. PETER THE GREAT               
9. HOW FERGIE COMPARES TO THE GREATS   
         
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++

**********************************************
*        WE'VE DONE THE TREBLE !!!!!!!!      *
**********************************************
**
*       1999 PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS        *
*    &*
*         1999 F.A. CUP CHAMPIONS            *
*    &*
*         1999 EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS          *
**********************************************

************ ALL 1999 FA CUP PICS ***************

http://www.red11.org/mufc/images/facupfinal/

*************************************************

 www.red11.org CHAMPIONSHIP Sound Archive x 5  ENJOY!!!!

SPECIAL SPECIAL SPECIAL  Mp3  "REDS Going to Barcelona"  3megs 
hifi-sound
Download here: 
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+ Players thoughts before the cup final: 134k   2mins
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rm

--------------------------------------
Daily RED Trivia  THURSDAY May 27 1999

27/5/1930: Frank Clempson born in Salford. He made his debut at
Inside-forward  at Sunderland in February 1950 due to injuries, and 
made 15 appearances between 1950-52 before moving to Stockport
County in February 1953.

27/5/1967:
 On Uniteds Down Under pre-season tour, Denis Law is sent off playing
 against Western Australia. This is the third early bath the feared
marksman earned  in his time at Old Trafford.

*********************

Paul's Daily Comment:

"We are the Champions, and we'll keep on fighting to the end"

Never did Freddie Mercury write such prophetic words. It is not
the United way to win in a clinical manner. The emotions that
went with last night typified what being a Red is all about.
Supporting United is not for the faint-hearted.

This season we have seen similar late, late drama. Giggs saved us from
defeat against Juventus. The late goals that saw off Liverpool. When
five minutes were left on the clock I was just willing us to drag it
into extra time. The longer the game went, the more Bayern
concentrated on steely defiance. Hitzfeld is a great tactician, and
for much of the game he stifled our attacking strengths.

It can be argued that they hit the woodwork twice in the closing
minutes, but that was only because Ferguson chose to gamble to win. In
the end, Bayern could not keep the lid on the United coffin - faced
with more and more attacking options they finally cracked. German
arrogance proved their undoing at the death, they did not contemplate
us scoring, and could not pull themselves together as the trophy
slipped from their grasp.

All hypothetical, but with Keane and Scholes in midfield, Beckham on
the right and Giggs on his natural left wing, surely we would have
broken them down sooner. As it was, someone in the gods belatedly
realised that it was indeed Sir Matts day as much as it was Alex
Fergusons day.

Debates will rage over which was the greatest United team. 
The side that was cruelly decimated at Munich in 1958 never had
the opportunity to show us how truly great they were. They could have
been crowned Champions of Europe 40 years ago and opened up an even
bigger dynasty for us to cherish in years to come.

The 1968 side probably peaked before their golden night at Wembley,
but still managed to land the biggest prize. The 1994 team for some is
a contender as the best, but was restricted in Europe due to the
'foreigner' rule. One thig we can be sure of, this is the best SQUAD
that Old Trafford has ever assembled. To be able to being on the likes
of Sheringham and Solskjaer off the bench to clinch a European Cup is
remarkable. To do it without two key midfielders is magnificent. It
must be only a matter of time before Ferguson is knighted and joins
the elite club that already includes Busby and Charlton. His players
typified the man - stubborn, no surrender, never give in.

The 'big' treble even eluded the Liverpool side of 1977. And this was
done the United way, in the tradition of entertaining and skilful
football, not the containing and dour way others have adopted. Seeing
an emotional Bobby Charlton in the stand was indeed poignant. Even the
manager was lost for words at the end.

The achievement has not fully sunk in to all of us just yet. For the
1968 side it was the pinnacle of a dream, and the end of the road. For
the 1999 side, they have the chance to repeat their glory. Next
season, everybody both at home and abroad will be giving their all to
depose the English and European Champions, we can be sure of that.
Until then, savour the moment. Older supporters will recall many
heartbreaking moments through the years, many disappointments, and
that is what makes winning the sweeter.

It may seem strange to say this now, but no matter what Martin 
Edwards may say, now is the time to look at improving the squad where
necessary. A goalkeeper may not be enough. If United are to stay as
Europes Number 1, they have to show ambition to achieve it.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Latest sound interviews in Real Audio here: 
 http://www.red11.org/mufc/sound/99

Everyone who wants the goal in Real Time Video 300k now thanks to RED 
CAFE!
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FA Cup Semi Final Replay
14 April 1999
Manchester United 2:1 Arsenal (Villa Park)
  Download Ryan Giggs Goal! (Real Video: 300K)
  --> http://www.iol.ie/~redcafe/real/giggs-goal.ra
  Thanks to the Theatre of Dreams
 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

MANCHESTER UNITED STATS v ALL teams on the Web
http://www.red11.org/mufc/stats.htm

Previous News:
BSKYB Takeover news/pics at http://www.red11.org/mufc/bskyb.htm
 Brian Kidd Press conference, pic, real audio
  http://www.iol.ie/~redcafe/kidd.htm

Peter Schmeichel's last Season at United!
   http://www.red11.org/mufc/news/schmeichel.htm

Next games: 
ALL Result/Fixture Index:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/fix9899z.htm
If you would like ALL the final fixtures for
UNITED/Arse/Chelsea then go to 
http://www.red11.org/mufc/fix9899.htm

UNITED Stats v All teams:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/stats/

*** TEAM RESULTS - MANCHESTER UNITED - AS AT 05/05/99 ***

Date        Opposition  Score   Pos.   Attend.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
15/08/98    Leicester City           Home     D  2-2    11    55,052
22/08/98    West Ham United          Away     D  0-0    11    26,039
09/09/98    Charlton Athletic        Home     W  4-1     9    55,147
12/09/98    Coventry City            Home     W  2-0     5    55,193
20/09/98    Arsenal Away     L  0-3    10    38,142
24/09/98    Liverpool                Home     W  2-0     3    55,181
03/10/98    Southampton              Away     W  3-0     2    15,251
17/10/98    Wimbledon                Home     W  5-1     2    55,265
24/10/98    Derby County             Away     D  1-1     2    30,867
31/10/98    Everton Away     W  4-1     2    40,079
08/11/98    Newcastle United         Home     D  0-0     3    55,174
14/11/98    Blackburn Rovers         Home     W  3-2     2    55,198
21/11/98    Sheffield Wednesday      Away     L  1-3     2    39,475
29/11/98    Leeds United             Home     W  3-2     2    55,172
05/12/98    Aston Villa              Away     D  1-1     2    39,241
12/12/98    Tottenham Hotspur        Away     D  2-2     1    36,079
16/12/98    Chelsea Home     D  1-1     2    55,159
19/12/98    Middlesbrough            Home     L  2-3     3    55,152
26/12/98    Nottingham Forest        Home     W  3-0     3    55,216
29/12/98    Chelsea Away     D  0-0     3    34,741
10/01/99    West Ham United          Home     W  4-1     3    55,180
16/01/99    Leicester City           Away     W  6-2     2    22,091
31/01/99    Charlton Athletic        Away     W  1-0     1    20,043
03/02/99    Derby County             Home     W  1-0     1    55,174
06/02/99    Nottingham Forest        Away     W  8-1     1    30,025
17/02/99    Arsenal Home     D  1-1     1    55,171
20/02/99    Coventry City            Away     W  1-0     1    22,596
27/02/99    Southampton              Home     W  2-1     1    55,316
13/03/99    Newcastle United         Away     W  2-1     1    36,500
21/03/99    Everton Home     W  3-1     1    55,182
03/04/99    Wimbledon                Away     D  1-1     1    26,121
17/04/99    Sheffield Wednesday      Home     W  3-0     1    55,270
25/04/99    Leeds United             Away     D  1-1     2    40,255
01/05/99    Aston Villa              Home     W  2-1     1    55,189
05/05/99    Liverpool                Away     D  2-2     2    44,702
09/05/99    Middlesbrough            Away     W  1-0     1    34,665
12/05/99    Blackburn                Away     D  0-0     1    30,436
16/05/99    Tottenham Hotspur        Home     W  2-1     1    55,189

*** TEAM STATISTICS - MANCHESTER UNITED - 1998/9

AVERAGE HOME ATTENDANCE: 55,188
HIGHEST HOME ATTENDANCE: 27/02/99 - Southampton (55,316)
LOWEST HOME ATTENDANCE:  15/08/98 - Leicester City (55,052)
BEST WIN:                06/02/99 - Nottingham Forest (8-1)
HEAVIEST DEFEAT:         20/09/98 - Arsenal (0-3)
BEST HOME WIN:           17/10/98 - Wimbledon (5-1)
HEAVIEST HOME DEFEAT:    19/12/98 - Middlesbrough (2-3)
BEST AWAY WIN:           06/02/99 - Nottingham Forest (8-1)
HEAVIEST AWAY DEFEAT:    20/09/98 - Arsenal (0-3)*****
  
Champions League:
Group D         P  W  D  L  F  A   Pts
Bayern Munich   6  3  2  1  9  6  11   
Man United      6  2  4  0 20 11  10
Barcelona       6  2  2  2 11  9   8    
Brondby         6  1  0  5  4 18   3   

Dec  9 Brondby         0-2  Barcelona
Dec  9 Man Utd         1-1  Bayern Munich

	******

CHAMPIONS' LEAGUE QUARTER-FINALS
 Manchester Utd  2 v 0  Inter Milan
 Real Madrid     1 v 1  Dynamo Kiev
 Juventus        2 v 1  Olympiakos
 Bayern Munich   2 v 0  Kaiserslautern

**DYNAMO KIEV      2 v 0  REAL MADRID         (Agg:3-1)
FC KAISERSLAUTERN  0 v 4  **BAYERN MUNICH     (Agg:0-6)
INTERNAZIONALE FC  1 v 1  **MANCHESTER UNITED (Agg:1-3)
OLYMPIAKOS         1 v 1  **JUVENTUS          (Agg:2-3)

Semi Finals 
Manchester United v Juventus  4-3agg 3-2 [1-1]
Bayern Munchen v Dynamo Kiev  4-3agg 1-0 [3-3]

UEFA Champions League Final  Nou Camp, Barcelona May 26
MANCHESTER UNITED 2 BAYERN MUNCHEN 1   
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++

Manchester United's route to European Cup triumph

MANCHESTER, May 27  - Manchester United took the following
route to  European Cup final glory against Bayern Munich in 
Barcelona:

First Qualifying Round - bye

- - -
Second Qualifying Round v LKS Lodz (Poland)

1st Leg
Manchester United   2 - Ryan Giggs 16, Andy Cole 81
LKS Lodz            0
- - -
2nd Leg
LKS Lodz          0
Manchester United 0

Manchester United qualified 2-0 on aggregate
- - -

Group D matches

Manchester United 3 - Ryan Giggs 17, Paul Scholes 24, David Beckham 
64
Barcelona         3 - Andersson 47, Giovanni 60pen, Luis Enrique 
71pen

Red card: Nicky Butt (Manchester United) 70

- - -

Bayern Munich     2 - Elber 11, 90
Manchester United 2 - Dwight Yorke 30, Paul Scholes 49

- - -

Brondby           2 - Kim Daugaard 35, Ebbe Sand 90
Manchester United 6 - Ryan Giggs 2, 21, Andy Cole 28,
		      Roy Keane 55, Dwight Yorke 60,
		      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 62
- - -

Manchester United 5 - David Beckham 7, Andy Cole 13,
		      Phil Neville 16, Dwight Yorke 28
		      Paul Scholes 62
Brondby           0

- - -

Barcelona         3 - Andersson 1, Rivaldo 57, 73
Manchester United 3 - Dwight Yorke 25, 68, Andy Cole 53

- - -

Manchester United 1 - Roy Keane 43
Bayern Munich     1 - Hasan Salihamidzic 56


Group D Final table
		      P    W    D    L    F    A  Pts
    Bayern Munich     6    3    2    1    9    6   11
    Manchester United 6    2    4    0   20   11   10
    Barcelona         6    2    2    2   11    9    8
    Brondby           6    1    0    5    4   18    3

- - -

Quarter-finals v Inter Milan

1st Leg
Manchester United 2 - Dwight Yorke 7, 45
Inter Milan       0

2nd Leg
Inter Milan       1 - Nicola Ventola 63
Manchester United 1 - Paul Scholes 88

Manchester United qualify 3-1 on aggregate

- - -

Semifinals v Juventus

1st Leg
Manchester United 1 - Ryan Giggs 90
Juventus          1 - Antonio Conte 25

2nd Leg
Juventus          2 - Filippo Inzaghi 6, 11
Manchester United 3 - Roy Keane 24, Dwight Yorke 34, Andy Cole 84

Manchester United qualify 4-3 on aggregate

- - -

UEFA Champions League Final  (Nou Camp, Barcelona)               
Manchester United 2 - Teddy Sheringham 89, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer 90
Bayern Munich 1     - Mario Basler 6    

- - -

Collated record of all matches played:
P    W    D    L    F    A
13   6    7    0   31   16

- - -

Scorers: Dwight Yorke 8, Ryan Giggs 5, Andy Cole 5,
	 Paul Scholes 4, Roy Keane 3, David Beckham 2,
	 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 2, Phil Neville 1,         
	 Teddy Sheringham 1 (31)

++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++

2. United Shatter Bayern (Guardian)

United shatter Bayern with double strike in injury-time

By Martin Thorpe
Wednesday May 26, 1999

 Manchester United sealed a historic Treble last night. That was
 predicted. But what could not have been foreseen was the manner
 of their victory. Two goals in injury-time by substitutes Teddy
 Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer handed them a victory every
 bit as remarkable as their first European Cup at Wembley win 31
 years earlier.

Yet the start for United could hardly have been worse. The game
 was merely heading towards the fifth minute when Bayern's giant
 striker Carsten Jancker burst towards the opposing penalty area
 only to be unceremoniously brought down by Ronny Johnsen's
 tackle some 19 yards out on the left.

As the Germans loitered over the free-kick, United arranged a
 long wall into which Markus Babbel infiltrated.

 As Mario Basler hammered his shot towards the crimson sentries,
 Babbel appeared to peel off backwards, taking the end of the
wall with him and the ball fizzed around the defensive line
with Peter 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 believe they were
losing. After all the hope they had invested in this tie, was
defeat going to be the reality? About half the giant bowl of
 the 90,000 capacity Nou Camp wallpapered red by United
supporters, a colourful backdrop made even bolder by Alex
Ferguson's starting line-up.

 In the absence of the suspended Roy Keane and Paul Scholes, the
 United manager took a huge gamble in this, without doubt the
 most important game of his life, by risking David Beckham
alongside Nicky Butt in midfield.

 The player constantly praised as the best crosser of the ball
 in Europe and prior to the game rated by Pele as currently the
 third best player in the world behind Rivaldo and Zinedine
Zidane, has filled this central role hardly at all in his
career and just once this season - in last Saturday's FA Cup
 final.

But the move did not entail just one risk. To accommodate
Beckham's switch, Ryan Giggs was relocated to an equally
 unfamiliar position on the right wing, and the squad player
Jesper Blomqvist brought in on the left.

Going a goal behind so early offered an even stiffer test of
 the effectiveness of Ferguson's brave redesign. But slowly, as
 they have done so many times before, United worked their way
 into the game.

Andy Cole bundled a shot under pressure just wide and Dwight
Yorke met Beckham's ball to the near post with a turn and shot
which the Bayern goalkeeper Oliver Kahn rushed to punch away.
But the difficulty of United's task was frequently exposed.
Beckham is great going forward but when, on 29 minutes he was
 naively dispossessed by Jens Jeremies just inside the Bayern
 half, the ensuing counter-attack ended with Alexander Zickler
shooting just wide of Schmeichel's goal.

 Johnsen, preferred in central defence to midfield, proved an
unexpectedly wobbly compatriot for Jaap Stam, while Blomqvist
was also fitting uneasily into the United reshuffle, not only
 leaving the left side virtually a cross-free zone but directing
 too many passes to players in grey.

But Ferguson's team were pressing for the equaliser even if
 they were not getting very far. The closest to a chance early
 on in the second half fell, actually, to Blomqvist, whose
outstretched foot directed a deep cross from the right over the
 bar.
But Bayern's well-organised and quick-witted side always
 remained a danger as United pushed forward. Not for the first
 time Jancker ran uninterrupted into the area only to see his
 acute-angled shot shovelled away by Schmeichel and then Basler
nearly chipped the keeper from the halfway line before Stefan
Effenberg blasted just wide from 25 yards and forced Schmeichel
 to tip over from close range shortly after.

A United change was inevitable and on 67 minutes the
 ineffective Blomqvist made way for Saturday's man of the match
Sheringham. And twice Bayern could have stretched their lead as
 shots rebounded from the United woodwork. Bayern would regret
 those misses as they missed a chance of their own Treble.

 Manchester United (4-4-2): Schmeichel; G Neville, 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).


++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++

3. Magnificent Obsession (Times)   

 MANCHESTER United last night sated the magnificent obsession that has inspired
 their strivings these past 31 years when they pulled off one of the most astonishing
 victories in the history of the European Cup and finally emulated the great team of
 Sir Matt Busby.

 In the end, it hardly seemed to matter that they had won the treble. That was almost
 forgotten in the incredible drama of a match that seemed to have been lost, of a
 triumph so sudden and shocking that it almost defied belief.

 It had seemed that United's attempt to win the trophy for the first time in 31 years
 had slipped to an anticlimactic failure, that they had fallen to a sixth-minute free
 kick from Mario Basler, that Bayern Munich had maintained the hold that German
 football seemed to have established over its English counterpart.

 But as the red digital clocks at either end of the Nou Camp here showed that 90 minutes
 were up and Alex Ferguson began to prepare for the misery of defeat and the brave
 words of congratulation for the Germans, the unbelievable, the unthinkable, began to
 unfold before his eyes.

 United's desperation had already forced them to rely on a huge chunk of good
 fortune as they saw shots from Carsten Jancker and Mehmet Scholl rebound off the
 woodwork. With injury time beckoning, Peter Schmeichel joined the rest of the United
 team in the penalty area as Beckham prepared to take a corner.

 It was cleared only to the edge of the box and when Ryan Giggs volleyed it back in,
 Teddy Sheringham, a second-half substitute, side-footed it into the corner of the net.
 United went wild; Bayern could not believe it.

 Yet two minutes later, the match lapsed into surreality. Beckham took another
 corner, Sheringham flicked it on and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who had been on the pitch
 for only eight minutes, hooked it into the roof of the net.

 The Bayern players stood disbelieving as United fell into ecstasy. A few seconds
 later, the final whistle went, the Germans flung themselves to the floor in utter
 despair and the victory was complete.

 Even United could scarcely believe it, but, when they wake this morning, they will know
 that they are the first English team for 15 years to lift the European Cup and that
 they have finally dragged themselves out of the shadow of Busby, George Best and Sir
 Bobby Charlton.

 They are their own men, now, they have gone from excellence to greatness, they will be
 f?ted as the most resilient, adventurous English side of all time. They have
 developed a reputation for coming back from the dead, but this was beyond anything we
 could have expected.

 Now, we will talk about the moment when Sheringham scored, about the disbelief at
 Solskjaer's strike in the same breath as we talk about Best's goal against Benfica at
 Wembley all those years ago. Nothing could equal the drama of what United achieved
 here.

 From before the start, the atmosphere surrounding the game had been laden with
 the weight of history and expectation. Eric Cantona sauntered around the white marquees
 that ringed the stadium, Charlton sat nervously in the stands with the rest of
 the United directors.

 In the opening minutes, in particular, it all seemed like a crushing burden on Alex
 Ferguson's players. They looked as though they were frozen with tension, with the
 realisation of how close they suddenly were to the prize that they had sought for so
 long.Schmeichel, playing in his last game for the club, appeared to be particularly
 badly affected. Usually the epitome of decisiveness and urgency, he twice fell
 into the grip of hesitation before his team had had time to settle and was forced into
 hasty, inelegant clearances that hinted at panic.

 The United goalkeeper was also partly to blame when Bayern took the lead in the
 sixth minute. Passes from Jens Jeremies and Michael Tarnat had split the United defence
 and forced Ronny Johnsen into making a clumsy foul on Carsten Jancker, but
 Schmeichel arranged a long wall of red shirts on the edge of the area that should
 have been unbreachable.

 Basler took the kick. He did not do anything fancy or attempt to bend the ball
 over the wall and under the crossbar. Instead, as Marcus Babbel dragged Nicky
 Butt out of the way, he clipped it round the side of the United players so that it
 arrowed straight into the right-hand corner of the net. Schmeichel stood rooted to the
 spot.

 It was then that attention began to focus on Ferguson's bold experiment of playing
 Beckham in the centre of midfield, with Ryan Giggs switched to the right wing and
 Jesper Blomqvist stationed on the left. In the first half, it simply did not work.

 It was not Beckham's fault. When he did get possession, he used it wisely and well,
 spraying passes right and left towards Andy Cole, Giggs and Blomqvist, but far from
 being discomfited by the sight of Beckham occupying his unfamiliar role, Bayern
 seemed to be encouraged by it.

 When United had possession, Bayern pushed Lothar Matth?us forward into midfield,
 where Beckham was already facing the formidable twin obstacle of Stefan
 Effenberg and Jeremies.

 It was simple enough, but it had the effect of swamping Butt and Beckham and denying
 them the time or space to operate. When the German champions chose to counter-attack,
 United missed the doggedness of the suspended Roy Keane and Paul Scholes and
 Bayern sliced through them.

 Oliver Kahn was forced to make a save for the first time midway through the half,
 when he punched Yorke's flick away at the near post, and Beckham nearly created a
 chance for Cole with a raking, 50-yard pass that split the Bayern defence.

 Still Bayern seemed the more dangerous side, though, still it was their
 counter-attacks that carried the most penetration. From one of these on the
 half-hour, Jeremies burst into great expanses of space, but, when Jancker
 back-heeled his pass to Zickler on the edge of the box, Zickler dragged it wide.

 The start of the second half did not bring any change of fortune or incisiveness for
 United. Nine minutes after the interval, Babbel could have put Bayern farther ahead,
 but, under pressure from Johnsen, he glanced his header from a corner by Basler
 just wide. Two minutes later, Blomqvist wasted an excellent chance when he scooped
 a cross from Giggs over the bar from six yards.

 Nothing was working for United. Giggs tried to sell a dummy to Basler and saw it
 intercepted, Cole tried an audacious overhead kick and almost missed it
 completely. The Germans were proving far more resilient opponents than any other of
 the teams that United have played so far this season.

 Midway through the half, Ferguson bowed to the inevitable and introduced Sheringham
 for Blomqvist. Yet that did not turn tide immediately, either. The more they pressed
 forward, the more desperate and vulnerable United became. In the 73rd minute,
 Schmeichel made an outstanding save from Effenberg after Jancker's first-time pass
 had put him clear. A few minutes later, after Basler's run had turned Johnsen
 inside out, Schmeichel was powerless as he watched Mehmet Scholl's delicate chip float
 over him. To the relief of the United section of the crowd, the chip rebounded
 off the post.

 United had another lucky escape a few minutes later, when Jancker's overhead kick
 crashed off the underside of the crossbar. They forced a couple of opportunities of
 their own through Solskjaer and Sheringham, but the Germans remained defiant and
 resolute - until United's desperate last assault.

 BAYERN MUNICH (3-5-2): O Kahn - T Linke, L Matth?us (sub: T Fink, 79min), S Kuffour -
 M Babbel, J Jeremies, S Effenberg, M Basler (sub: H Salihamidzic, 89), M Tarnat - C
 Jancker, A Zickler (sub: M Scholl, 70).

 MANCHESTER UNITED (4-4-2): P Schmeichel - G Neville, R Johnsen, J Stam, D Irwin - R
 Giggs, D Beckham, N Butt, J Blomqvist (sub: E Sheringham, 67) - A Cole (sub: O G
 Solskjaer, 81), D Yorke.

 Referee: P Collina (Italy).

++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++

4. Wondrous finish covers up tactical frailties (Telegraph) 

Wondrous finish covers up tactical frailties by
David Miller

Bayern Munich (1) 1 Man Utd (0) 2

THIS magnificent Manchester United side simply refuse
to give up. Yesterday, when all seemed lost, when the
German jinx again appeared to hold sway over an English
side, United scored twice in the final seconds through
Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to lift the
European Cup on the day that marked Sir Matt Busby's
90th birthday. Amazing.

United have this alarming habit of making life
 difficult for themselves in Europe. Scarcely five
 minutes had elapsed when the champions of England
 conceded the sloppiest of goals, the devastating early
 blow emanating from the confusion between Ronny Johnsen
and Jaap Stam. Communication and positional sense, the
 staples of central defensive pairings, appeared minimal
as Carsten Jancker, Bayern's burly striker, muscled
 down the inside-left channel.

The area appeared Stam's zone of responsibility but there was Johnsen
 diving in and fouling Jancker. Bayern eyed up the situation, 20 yards and
with promise writ large. United realised the danger and quickly
 gathered in a wall. Germans, though, are past masters at opening walls
 through run or tug.

Jancker and Markus Babbel made the key moves. Jancker was first to peel
away, taking Stam chasing after him. Then Babbel went, nipping behind the wall itself
and applying a slight tug to Nicky Butt's shirt on the way.
The cover was blown, the hole opened.

Basler, having bided his time, stepped up and sent his
free-kick curling into the space vacated by Babbel and
Jancker. Peter Schmeichel, captain on his last 
appearance for United, stood helpless as the
ball swerved in to his left, sending the Germans
into paroxysms of delight.

A brutal lesson unlearned, United still struggled defensively. Still the mix-ups came,
most notably between Schmeichel and Johnsen, although Bayern
failed to press home an unexpected advantage.

Lacking Roy Keane's midfield drive and leadership, United desperately sought for one of
their rank to stand up and lift them from this mess of their own making.

David Beckham picked up the gauntlet. As United's faithful ran through their song-book,
Beckham ran through his passing repertoire. This was his stage,
his hour but the experienced Germans refused to buckle.

The strivings of England's finest midfielder were watched and assessed by the great and the
good of the global game, Pele even taking time out to
describe Beckham as one of the world's great
players just behind Rivaldo and Zinedine Zidane.

Of Alex Ferguson's decision to hand Beckham the central
play-making role, Brazil's most famous son said: 
"With a player like David Beckham, you must give him
his freedom." Now it was United who needed
liberating from of Bayern's cold clutch.

Beneath a sea of banners, one of them proclaiming "Spirit of 68. Class of 99", Beckham
kept trying to release a low-key Jesper Blomqvist down the left,
Ryan Giggs down the right and Dwight Yorke and Andy
Cole through the middle. One clever ball saw
Yorke flicking goalwards only for Bayern's excellent
goalkeeper, Oliver Kahn, to punch clear.

Beckham's first-half promise foundered on the
rock of German determination and organisation. Whenever
Beckham gained possession, Jens Jeremies powered in,
making control and composure even more crucial assets.

Bayern's tactics were so clever, so efficient.
When Schmeichel had the ball, only one grey-shirted
striker stayed up while the other two fanned towards the
flanks, filling the space that the English love
to exploit.

Giggs looked ill at ease on the right, adding to
Bayern's sense of control. When United did break
through, Kahn was there to quell the danger. One
quickfire link-up between Yorke and Cole did
release Giggs, ripping United's supporters from
their seats in fevered anticipation. Yet there was Kahn, so
calm and canny, advancing to seize the ball. As United
themselves have done across Europe this
extraordinary season, Bayern threatened on the break.

After 28 minutes, Lothar Matth?us showed his
enduring class, taking the ball away from the
hard-tackling Jeremies and sweeping forward,
brimming with intent.

Having driven deep into United's half, Matth?us
slipped the ball to the ungainly but effective Jancker,
who found Alexander Zickler. The ensuing shot
scarcely worried Schmeichel, sliding
apologetically into the hoardings, but United
had again been reminded of the need to re-gather
when their own attacks broke down.
At least the half finished on a promising note with
Irwin and Cole combining to create a header for Giggs,
which proved too weak to alarm Kahn.

The second half beat to the same rhythm: United
pressuring and Bayern parrying. Jancker sent
Schmeichel into a slithering save and then Babbel misjudged
a header with United's goal gaping. Giggs
fashioned chances for Yorke, whose header was
blocked, and then Blomqvist, who could not keep his shot down. As
the clock ticked ever louder, urgent action
became essential.

Sheringham came off the bench for Blomqvist, yet
it was Bayern who threatened, Jancker turning the ball
into the path of Stefan Effenberg, whose
attempted lob was pushed over by Schmeichel. Then Mehmet Scholl
chipped Schmeichel but the ball rebounded into the
'keeper's arms.

But then a miracle. Beckham's corner swung over
and there was Schmeichel, up from the back,
pressuring Bayern's proud defence. Yorke headed
back, Giggs shot in and there was Sheringham playing the poacher.
In added time, Beckham swung in another corner,
Sheringham headed on and there was Solskjer to hook the
ball in. The Treble was complete. Amazing.

Manchester Utd: Schmeichel; G Neville, Stam, Johnsen,
Irwin; Giggs, Beckham, Butt, Blomqvist (Sheringham 66);
Yorke, Cole (Solksjaer 80). Subs: Van Der Gouw
(g), May, P Neville, Brown, Greening.

Bayern Munich: Kahn; Matth?us (Fink 80); Linke,
Kuffour; Babbel, Effenberg, Jeremies, Tarnat;
Basler (Salihamidzic 89), Jancker, Zickler
(Scholl 70).
Subs:
Dreher (g), Helmer, Strunz, Daei. Booked:
Effenberg.

Referee: P Collina (Italy).

++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++

5. Terry Dale's TV Report

Thank you Sir Matt. You obviously decided up there on Cloud 9 that
nothing was going to be allowed to spoil your 90th birthday
celebrations. Whispering in Fergie's ear to bring on Teddy and Ole was
a very smart move and you can now return to blowing out the 90 candles
on your heavenly Black Forest gateau. Regards to Duncan and the rest
of the Babes.

Right then. The buggers did it to us yet again. They go a goal behind
after just six minutes, and then make us suffer for the next 85. The
only difference this time was that I wasn't as confident as usual that
we could get back into this game. The Bayern defence looked too well
organized and our experimental formation (Good Grief! experimenting in
the European Cup Final, Fergie!) looked too weird to be productive.
Becks, at the beginning at least, did not look comfortable in the
middle and Giggsy, a left-footer playing way out on the right, looked
embarrassed. This did not look promising at all. The big Germans
seemed to be by-passing Becks without much difficulty while Giggs had
to keep turning inside to get the ball on his left foot. Bloody hell,
Fergie. I can see his point in trying to surprise Hitzfeld ... the
Bayern coach was probably expecting a more conventional formation and
Fergie hoped to surprise him ... but there was just no service for
Cole and Yorke. We didn't look threatening enough. Yes, we had a lot
of possession, but we did very little with it.

Let's face it, none of us was surprised when we went a goal down. It
is 'the United way.' But it was slightly unlucky. I don't believe
there was a foul committed by Ronaldo on Jancker. At worst, it was
50-50, but more likely the German made a meal of what was a fair but
strong challenge. Bayern played the free kick well. A player left the
end of the wall to create some space; another player took Jaapy away
creating even more space, and the Great Dane added the final touch by
not covering his exposed corner.

It's always annoying to lose a goal to a dead ball situation, but if
the Bayern lead achieved anything, it encouraged them to play more
defensively and so yield possession to us ... not that we did all that
much with it.

During the remaining 39 minutes of the half, we created a series of
half chances which all resulted in the ball trickling into the hands
of Oliver Kahn, the Bavarian Bananaman. It wasn't a classic game and
in fact the offside trap seemed to figure high in both teams tactics.
We piled up the corners (6 or 7 in the first half alone) but couldn't
create any real danger with any of them. Bayern's first corner didn't
come till the 36th minute, and that was a fair reflection of the
amount of attacking effort they were putting in.

The big question at half time was whether Fergie would change the
formation. Bayern weren't threatening at all but neither were we. What
about bringing Teddy on? He made no changes at the start of the second
half and things proceeded pretty much as they had done in the first
half. None of the front men could do anything. Cole, who we all
thought would terrorise the old geezer Matthaeus, was in fact pretty
well controlled by the young Ghanaian Kuffour. Yorkie was having his
own problems making an impression, Jesper too, Giggsy was still trying
to play everything with his left foot, but there were some hopeful
signs that Becks was at last getting to grips with his midfield role.
In the first half, both he and Giggs were being surrounded every time
they approached the ball, but now Becks at least was finding more
space to create some attacks.

On 55 minutes (my God, how the time flew in this game!) Jesper had a
chance as he came sliding in, but the ball ballooned over the bar. It
was frustrating to think that we might have all this possession and
yet lose the game to a lousy free kick. On 63 minutes, Bayern created
their only chance up to that point in the half when Basler tried to
lob Schmikes from about 40 yards. There was still nothing to worry
about from them, but our lack of chances was a real worry.

With 67 minutes gone, Teddy came on for Bloomers and a few more
chances strated to come. Jaap headed over from a corner; Andy Cole
attempted an overhead kick after Yorkie had (for the first time) set
him up, but it was not accurate or strong.

Just as these signs of life appeared, and I relaxed my grip on my
cat's throat, Bayern suddenly started to exploit the gaps that were
gaping in our defence as we pressed forward with the time rapidly
running out. They made two fast breaks within a couple of minutes, one
of them bringing out a Schmikes save. Schmikes had looked nervous the
whole game and wasn't helped by his woeful kicking. With 10 minutes to
go, it was starting to look as if we'd need some heavenly miracle as
Scholl hit the post after a fine Basler run at our defence. A minute
later, another Scholl shot brought out a Schmikes save. Then on 84
minutes, Jancker's overhead kick rebounded back off the crossbar. By
this time, we had both Teddy and Ole (for Cole) on, but things were
looking pretty bleak as Bayern were now looking capable of getting the
all important second goal.

Yes, thoughts of the scouse Cup game were in my mind as we moved into
the last 5 minutes, but miracles don't happen twice in a season, do
they? There was a flicker of hope on 87 minutes as Ole and Teddy
combined, but Teddy couild only fire a weak shot straight at Oliver
Kahn.

At this point I should mention that I was watching the game through a
German satellite channel (RTL) so you can imagine the remaining
minutes were particularly entertaining. First the commentator couldn't
resist dragging up Gary Lineker's comments (published all over the
place in the last couple of days) that German teams always beat
English teams, and, yes, today was no exception. 'It's a psychological
thing.' he said. English teams simply know they will be beaten and so
it turns into a self-fulfilling prophecy. I couldn't see him but I
could sense the Germanic smirk all over his face.

And so, shortly after the commentator's words of wisdom, we came to
the 91st minute and Becks's corner. You could tell we'd reached the
end of the road because the Great Dane was up there for the corner. It
was now or never, do or die. Over came the cross, Schmikes jumped for
it and managed to put off a Bavarian defender enough for the ball to
fall to Yorkie. He tried to send the ball back into the danger area
but it was half cleared straight to Giggsy just on the edge of the
area. He shot. Or passed. Whatever it was meant to be, it bobbled
straight to Edward Sheringham (profession: medal collector and scorer
of important goals). If the Bayern defenders on the line had been a
bit faster moving forward, they would have caught both Teddy and Ole
offside, but they were a fraction too slow. Teddy gobbled up the
chance, sent a low short to the right of Kahn and, in the 91st minute,
we had equalised the goal that Bayern had scored 85 minutes earlier.
Bloody hell yet again. Thirty minutes of Golden Goal loomed in which
we would surely be the stronger team, having been rejuvenated by that
goal.

But, there was no time to pop out and put the kettle on. Within a
minute, we got another a corner which Becks went over to take, the
Reds in the background waving and cheering. Over came the corner, up
jumped Mr Edward Sheringham to flick the ball on, it was missing the
goals, but Ole stuck out his leg and the ball shot up into the roof of
the net. Kuffour, who had so well controlled Andy Cole, had left
Sunnyboy 30 centimetres of space (thanks, I believe, to keeper Kahn
pushing him forward a split second before the ball arrived on Ole's
toe), and 30 centimetres is more than enough.

Who put the ball in the Bavarians' net? Ole Gunnar Solksjaer!!!!

It really was just like the scouser game, perhaps even more
astonishing. It all happened within 3 minutes, and just one minute
after the goal, the ref blew his whistle and the most amazing season
ever for this football club came to an end, on the pitch at least.
Premiership champions, FA Cup champions and now, the Holy Grail, the
European Cup again, and all achieved in three consecutive games. There
may never ever be anything like this again. I wish I'd been at these
games, I wish I could be in Manchester tomorrow to see the three
trophies paraded through the streets.

What a bloody team!!
______________
Terry
Saudi

++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++

6. Subs Standard Proves United's Class  (365)

 SUBS' STANDARD PROVES UNITED'S CLASS
Bench Boys Sheringham And Solskjaer Seal Heart-Stopping
Treble Clincher
 By Ian Cruise

MANCHESTER UNITED 2 BAYERN MUNICH 1
Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole have made the headlines all
 season. When it mattered most though, it was two of Old
Trafford's bit-part players who stole the glory in the
most dramatic finish ever to a European Cup Final.

 With the clock ticking into injury time, substitutes
Teddy Sheringham and Old Gunnar Solskjaer wrote their
names indelibly into the Manchester United history books.
They may have suffered long spells of frustration on the
 sidelines this season, but it all came good for them in
 two unforgettable minutes in Barcelona's Nou Camp
stadium.

With the German players and fans getting set to celebrate
Bayern's first European Cup triumph since 1976, United
snatched the giant trophy out of their grasp. With the
clock already showing 90 minutes, goalkeeper Peter
Schmeichel raced upfield for a corner which David Beckham
swung into the box. The big Dane's presence may or not
 have had an effect but, either way, Yorke's ball back
 into the danger zone found its way to Ryan Giggs on the
edge of the area and his volley was turned into the
bottom corner by Sheringham.

That though, was merely the start of the drama...

As the players began to prepare for extra time and the
Golden Goal, United once again ripped up the script as
 they clinched a thrilling victory in a sensational
climax. Yet again a Beckham corner caused the damage and
Sheringham's header was prodded into the roof of the net
 by Solskjaer to spark wild scenes, both on the pitch and
 on the terraces (and in the Football365 office, frankly).

For the Germans, though, there was disbelief. Bayern's
 players collapsed to the turf in tears unable to
comprehend the turn of events that left them
 broken-hearted, having led from the sixth minute and
 having hit the post and the crossbar in the previous ten
 minutes. Ultimately, though, there was nothing but pain
 for the Bundesliga champions.

However, while the end of the match was a dream for the
 team in red, the beginning was more like a nightmare.
Manchester United started nervously and struggled to find
 the fluency which has been a hallmark of their play in
 recent weeks. They have, for the most part, been slow
starters in Europe this season but have proved, as they
did against Juventus in the second leg of their memorable
semi-final in Italy, that they are capable of overcoming
 their sluggishness and going on to success.

However, although they captured the nation's imagination
 with that stunning comeback in Turin last month, Alex
Ferguson would have been hoping for a better start in the
 Nou Camp, but what transpired certainly would not have
 been in any pre-written United script.

 With just five minutes gone, Ronny Johnsen was penalised
 for a foul on Carsten Jancker just a couple of yards
outside the United penalty area and Schmeichel, playing
 his last game for the Reds, and as captain in place of
 the suspended Roy Keane, was rooted to the spot as Mario
Basler curled the ball around the wall and past the
  stranded Dane.
.
 It was the worst possible start for Ferguson's Treble
 chasers and it could have been a lot worse just three
 minutes later when Alexander Zickler got in front of Jaap
Stam at the near post to meet Basler's right-wing centre.
Fortunately for United, the German striker was unable to
steer the ball on target and shot harmlessly wide of the
 post.

A second goal then could have spelled the end of United's
dreams but they slowly began to impose themselves on the
 game, although still they were struggling to create
 clear-cut goalscoring opportunities.

Their first half chance came in the 14th minute when Gary
Neville's long throw was headed on by Stam towards Andy
Cole, but the striker could not get a clean strike on the
ball and the German defence was able to clear, off the
 Old Trafford marksman, and behind for a goal kick.

Six minutes later, Yorke came the closest to opening the
scoring for the Premiership champions when he met
Beckham's cross at the near post and helped the ball on
 towards the top corner. However, Bayern keeper Oliver
Kahn, while not looking altogether comfortable, was able
 to half punch and half flap the ball away from the
danger.

Beckham, by now, was becoming more and more instrumental
 in the unfamiliar central midfield slot which he has
 coveted for so long and last night he was handed the
responsibility in the absence of the suspended Keane and
Paul Scholes. His range of passing was causing problems
for the German defence and, from one raking 40-yard
cross-field ball, he offered an opportunity to Cole.

The striker took the ball cleanly with his first touch -
 something which isn't always the case - but he scuffed
his first shot, left-footed, at two defenders closing him
down and then, when looking for attack partner Yorke at
 the far post, succeeding only in crossing the ball
 against another of the Bayern rearguard.

 in, but there would have been a few nervous flutters when
Zickler took aim from 25 yards out and sent his low shot
skidding just narrowly wide of Schmeichel's right post.
But although the Red Devils appeared in little danger of
 conceding a second goal, equally they never really looked
 like scoring an equaliser in the opening period.

They were struggling to create chances from the flanks,
 maybe missing Beckham's crossing ability from wide on the
 right. Although Giggs, playing Beckham's usual role, saw
 plenty of the ball in the first half his final pass was
 largely disappointing, while Jesper Blomqvist, on the
 left flank, was enormously ineffective.

However, although he must have been tempted to make
changes at half-time, Ferguson sent out the same XI after
the interval but, once again, they began in lucklustre
 fashion and were almost made to pay in the very first
 minute of the second half when Jancker's strong run took
 him into the danger area. Johnsen recovered well to make
a saving, sliding tackle and, although the German striker
 was able to get a half-hit shot on target, it lacked
power and Schmeichel was able to parry comfortably.

Eight minutes later, though, the Dane would surely have
been helpless had Markus Babbel - a former United
 transfer target - connected with a free header just six
yards out. Basler's right-wing corner caught Fergie's
 side asleep but the German defender, who stole in
completely unmarked, failed to get his head to the ball
cleanly.

How United would have reacted to that setback we will
 never know, but they did respond well to the near-miss.
Giggs, who had been struggling all night to deliver the
 required service into the middle, produced a better
quality ball deep into the penalty box where Blomqvist
 sneaked in on the wrong side of Babbel but could only
scoop his shot over the bar.

Still, though, they struggled to open up a well-organised
Bayern defence and the growing confidence in the German
 ranks was emphasised when Basler almost embarrassed
Schmeichel with an audacious effort from 50 yards which
was reminiscent of the goal that launched Beckham's
career against Wimbledon almost three years ago.
Fortunately for Schmeichel, and United, the shot cleared
 the bar.

With a little under 25 minutes remaining, Ferguson played
his first card when he took off the hapless Blomqvist and
 replaced him with Saturday's FA Cup Final man of the
 match Sheringham. It was Cole, though, who was the
 recipient of United's next opening when he found some
 space in the area but could only send his attempted
overhead kick, from Giggs' cross, well wide of the post.

By contrast, Bayern had more of a threat about them
whenever they ventured forward. Steffen Effenberg was
 narrowly wide with a 30-yarder in the 72nd minute, and
 two minutes later he forced the save of the match from
Schmeichel. Jancker headed a great ball down into
Effenberg's path and the midfielder lofted the ball
 towards goal but the United keeper leapt superbly to claw
  his effort over the bar with his fingertips. Had the
veteran keeper been only 6-foot-2, rather than 6-foot-4,
 the match would have been over.

But five minutes later not even the great Dane could do
anything about a sublime effort from substitute Mehmet
Scholl. A storming run from Basler, half the length of
the field, created confusion in the United defence and,
 when he fed Scholl, the midfielder cut back across the
 front of the defenders before sending a glorious chip
over Schmeichel but, agonisingly for the Germans, against
 the post.

However, as the game entered its final ten minutes, the
gaps began to appear and the chances came thick and fast.
 Nicky Butt lifted a good centre across the face of the
goal but there was no-one in a red shirt on hand to
provide the simplest of finishes. Then substitute
 Solskjaer, who had been on the pitch just a matter of
 seconds after replacing Cole, sent a flashing header
 towards goal which was gratefully clutched by Kahn at
 full stretch.

 But as United surged forward, so the danger posed by
 Bayern on the break became ever more apparent. Scholl
 forced Schmeichel into another splendid diving save in
 the 82nd, before Jancker was denied by a coat of paint
when his overhead kick crashed against the underside of
 the bar.

Still the Red devils surged forward and Sheringham and
 Solskjaer both forced Kahn into saves. Nobody could guess
at the drama that was to fllow in the last three minutes.......

++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++

7. Soccernet Report
 
The European Cup has never, ever seen anything like this.
Manchester United seemed to have lost the only thing they
 truly cared about. The game really was over.

The huge clocks at both ends of this magnificent stadium
had both just clicked on to 45:00. Time was up, Bayern
were winning and Alex Ferguson's team just had not
 performed.

Teddy Sheringham's young son was looking forlornly up at
 the clock. Then his father scored and everything went
 crazy.

Just as United had done so many, many times this season,
 they were back ... somehow.

Then, amazingly, they had won. It all happened so fast
 that even Ole Gunnar Solskjaer probably doesn't know how
 he did it, but he did.

 The evening had started so differently, though. In a
 cauldron like this and with the May sunshine making
Barcelona a steamy host city, the last thing you would
have expected was that United would freeze. But they did
 in the first half-hour.

This fine team has made enjoyment of big occasions their
 trademark - fear of failure has been absent from their
vocabulary.

Yet, before Mario Basler placed his sixth-minute free
 kick beyond a badly organised wall, and then repeatedly
 once Bayern were ahead, players like Ronny Johnsen,
 Jesper Blomqvist, Nicky Butt and even the laid back
 Dwight Yorke just seemed overwhelmed. Certainly, they
 fought and were not found wanting in attitude, aggression
 and even flair intermittently.

Still, the fact remained, it was for desperately long
 periods a lame imitation of how United normally play.

Bayern started precisely as it had been predicted
they would, with a blizzard of energy and threat just
like Borussia Dortmund did in defeating Juventus two
seasons ago.

Not for Ottmar Hitzfeld's teams the conservative
approach to major Finals, he likes to see his players
start like streetfighters, grip the game like a vice
once ahead and then go for the killer blow when
opponents think they are back in the contest.

And, in Basler, the Bayern manager found such an
eager disciple.

It will nag at Ferguson and his players that referee
Pierluigi Collina seemed to share their big-match
nerves. When Johnsen's attempt to deal with the
mammoth Carsten Jancker ended with the German centre
forward on the ground, the Italian official seemed
deeply unsure of his decision.

To anyone familiar with the mental procedures of
top-grade referees, it was quite evident that when he
set off at a sprint to reach the spot where the
incident took place, he was using the running time to
make up his mind.

Was it a penalty? Was it outside the box? Was it even
a foul?

When his decision was shared with the 22 players, the
crowd and the TV-watching millions, it seemed like
nothing more and nothing less than a fudge.

Whatever anger United felt about Collina's ruling, it
was not enough to jag them out of their torpor. The
defensive wall was bedraggled, Jens Jeremies stood at
the extreme right-hand end of it and the man known
only as 'Super Mario' to Bayern's fans really had no
problem in slotting in his goal.

In fact, he looked as if he might have had more
trouble lacing up his boots or pulling on his grey
jersey, so simple was the strike.

Poor old Nicky Butt, the man who had to step into Roy
Keane's boots, was most exposed by the devastating
moment. Jeremies was jostling him, Collina was not
interested in interceding and as the midfielder tried
to get behind his opponent, Jeremies rolled with him,
exposed a vast gap and Basler scored. Simple as that.

It was the same goalmouth into which United had
conceded a much more thrilling, much better crafted
free kick to the Brazilian Rivaldo against Barcelona
but this time, again, Peter Schmeichel was left
rooted to the spot.

When the United players traipsed off the pitch at
half-time, United were at their lowest ebb for many,
many months.

Shoulders were low, body language was sending out
messages nobody in red wanted to see and only
Ferguson had the key to building something
inspirational from the rubble which surrounded him.

Somebody in the Nou Camp clearly either had United's
cause at heart, or a malicious sense of humour, when
they pumped out the strains of Chumbawumba's hit
record Tubthumping as the play-ers wandered off.

'I get knocked down, but I get up again' go the
lyrics. That has been so true of this mighty season
for United, but it just didn't look feasible at that
time last night.

The initial efforts to claw back parity - and pride -
had been too stodgy to upset the authoritative
Germans.

David Beckham produced surge after surge, but either
his thigh strain was telling on him or he should have
been used on the right wing where he excels, because
nothing he did could galvanise his team-mates in the
customary manner.

He might well have been United's most prominent and
brave player of the first half, but the game was
crying out for his return to the flank and those
explosive, dangerous crosses.

When Beckham did revert to type, in the 20th minute,
his deflected cross left Yorke defying geometry to
put a flick on the ball which had Oliver Kahn
scrambling furiously to paw it off the line.

Beckham also struck two fabulous corners in that
first half-hour but, typically on the night, the
chances fizzled out. Conversely, Munich were causing
havoc at the other end.

Johnsen and Schmeichel just could not get their act
together and for some reason the Danish goalkeeper
ended up kicking clear in three panicky situations in
that woeful first half.

Even when Beckham struck a free kick, it floated
harmlessly past the woodwork instead of putting fear
into the opposition.

Then, as United's conviction returned and they
desperately fought off the tiredness of their
ravaging season, their luck appeared to run out.

Little dummies between Ryan Giggs, Yorke and Cole
which have unlocked defences all season suddenly went
awry. Blomqvist started giving the ball away, just as
he did with such terrible consequences in Milan when
he caused Keane to make his bookable tackle which led
to suspension from the Final.

When the Swede went off for Sheringham with 25
minutes left, it looked overdue. He had missed
United's best chance to that point when Giggs'
penetrating cross dropped for Blomqvist to score, but
he somehow managed to scoop the ball over the
crossbar.

Even when the usually impeccable Kahn bumped into his
two defenders, Markus Babbel and Michael Tarnat, the
ball sat up invitingly for Yorke or Cole, but the
ball would not go in.

There were some chances at both ends. Jaap Stam
headed over in the 67th minute and Effenberg smashed
a long drive just past soon after. Munich then
created some spectacular efforts.

Schmeichel saved superbly from Effenberg's lofted
effort on his last night in United colours, Scholl's
lob came back off a post and Jancker again hit the
woodwork.

The game was a minute into injury-time when
Schmeichel ran the length of the field for a corner
and in the confusion as Bayern failed to clear,
Sheringham side-footed the ball into the corner
following a shot by Giggs.

Incredibly, the game was won within seconds when from
another Beckham corner, Sheringham flicked on and
Solskjaer stabbed home from close range.

++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++

8. PETER THE GREAT               

When he was a young boy in Denmark, Peter Schmeichel plastered
the walls of his bedroom with memorabilia of a faraway football
team called Manchester United. Now he's one of the greatest
goalkeepers in the world. Tonight he captains United in his final game
for the club which owes his so much. In an exclusive interview, his
mother Inger Schmeichel describes the joy and pride she feels for her
sons achievements......

Keeping calm in a crisis is Inger Schmeichels speciality. As a
former nurse, he job often depended on her cool, professiona
approach. But when it comes to her only son, Peter, and his
soccer career she is a bundle of nerves. Right now she is in
Barcelona awaiting tonights European Cup Final against
Bayern Munich. Her stomach, she admits, will be churning.

"I'm so very nervous" says Inger, 60, whose home is a Copenhagen
apartment. "We're all nervous, but Peter always says, "Don't worry
Mum, it's only football." "But we know it's very serious. He wants
only to make us feel better. I am a football fan, yes, but only
because I have been following Peter all these years."

"When he is involved it is very special. When we watch the matches on
the television at home in Denmark, we are shouting very loudly and
trembling because we want so much for Manchester United to win."

In the background, Peter's father, a professional pianist, plays a
robust rendition of Rule Britannia, in honour of the occasion. "Antoni
has such a sense of humour" laughs Inger.

Peter's amazing career is enjoyed and celebrated by every member
of the family. Tonight, while mum and dad are tasting the action in
the Catalan capital, the Great Dane's sisters Katrin, 36, and
27-year-old Hannah will be following every tense second of the match
too. "We are all very involved with Peter's career and so very proud
of him" says mum.

Inger and Antoni - Tolek to friends - knew from an early age that
Peter was going to be a professional footballer, even though his
Polish father, who studied at the Academy of Music in Warsaw, wanted
him to become a musician. A talented pianist and drummer, Peter always
preferred football, but now finds his music is the perfect relaxation
for coping with the stresses of professional soccer. He often played
the piano for his teammates at his former club, Brondby, where he was
known as Peter the Great.

Peter was not academic at school. He lived for football. His
sisters, however, were studious and now Katrin is an arts
journalist, Margaret a linguist and Hannah is studying photography at
Glasgow School of Art.

"We have been very lucky with all our children" says Inger. They are
all highly motivated. We never needed to press them to do things. They
were willing to work for what they wanted to achieve. Peter always
wanted to play football. He was, and still is, a talented musician,
but football was always going to be his life."

It was at the age of eight, at the junior soccer club he attended in
his home town of Gladsaxe, that Peter's remarkable skill was spotted.
"He showed great talent from the first day at the football club.
Everybody could see it" says Inger proudly. "he was always, always
moving around and clever at every sport. He loved climbing, handball
and gymnastics, but always football. He would think about it all the
time. He was so strong and very brave even when he was a little boy.
Peter was always so sure of what he wanted to do. When he reached 13
his goal was to become a professional and he practised all the time.
He was very determined. It was his dream to play for Manchester
United. When it happened it was, for him, a dream come true."

The young Peter was such a devotee that he turned his bedroom 
into a Reds shrine. "The wall was full of pictures of the players. He
had scarves and everything Manchester United" says Inger. In his
teens, Peters heroes were Alex Stepney, in goal, and Steve Coppell and
Gordon Hill, up front. His best friend at school was an Arsenal
fanatic, so to give him some opposition he adopted Manchester United.
But it was not until he watched them on TV in a 5-3 game with West
Brom that he was really hooked. "You can imagine how he felt when he
went to play for them. He was a very happy man" says Inger.

Peter's career started with a junior Copenhagen club when he 
also worked as a carpet fitter and advertising agent. He joined
Brondby in 1987 where he quickly established a reputation thanks
to his resilience, reactions, concentration and aggressive
goalkeeping. His only problem was a temperament which 
frequently found him screaming at his own defenders and - with his
tall build, which he inherited from 6ft tall Inger, and blond spiky
hair - he was a fearsome sight.

But it did not take him long for him to mature into the composed
professional described recently by Manchester United manager
Alex Ferguson as "the best goalkeeper I have seen in my playing
and management career. He ranks with Shilton and Banks and
all the great goalkeepers there have been."

It is thought that marrying Bente, his beautiful hoem-town sweetheart
and the daughter of his then football coach, also helped him to settle
down. The couple have two children, Caspar, age 12 and Cecile, 8.
Caspar is already displaying some of his fathers talent on the pitch.
"But he doesn't get as much time as he would like to practice" laughs
Inger, no doubt remembering how Peter was as a boy. Naturally, both
children are keen Reds fans.

"They have a marvellous life" says Inger, yet sometimes you know, it
is not so nice when everybody knows who your father is. But Peter and
Bente are very protective of them."

Inger and Antoni get to see the family fairly frequently and often
travel to matches in England. At holiday time, or when he is playing
for his country, Peter and his family moved to Denmark, staying in an
apartment they own in the same block as their parents.

What the future holds for Peter Schmeichel is very much a 
jealously-guarded family secret, and Inger remains tight-lipped
about where her son is headed after United. "He still has not
decided" she says warding off further questions.

But wherever he goes, he is sure to take with him the fondest
wishes of legions of Reds fans, not only here in Manchester but
from all over the world.

ROLL OF HONOUR

CLUB HONOURS
BRONDBY: Danish Championship 87,88,90,91 Danish Cup 89
MAN UNITED: Premier League 93,94,96,97,99 FA Cup 94,96,99
League Cup 92 European Super Cup 91 Charity Shield 93,94,96,97

INTERNATIONAL HONOURS
105 caps for Denmark
European Championship winner 92 

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
1991: Joins Man United in August
1992: Wins European Championship with Denmark and voted
player of tournament after shutting out favourites Germany 2-0
in final.
1993: Schmeichel is ever-present as United win their first
championship for 26 years. He keeps 17 clean sheets in
42 games, conceding only 31 goals.
1994: March - sent off against Charlton for handling outside
area and misses League Cup Final defeat by Villa. 
May - United win double, beating Chelsea 4-0 on FA Cup Final
1995: Sep - scores late equaliser with a header against Rotor
Volvograd
1996: March - perhaps his best display, holding championship
rivals Newcastle at bay at St James Park to win win 1-0 and 
effectively	seal the title. 
May- The Double is achieved with 1-0 FA Cup Final win against
Liverpool
June- Criticised as Denmark flop in Euro 96
Dec - Compared to Gordon Banks after wonder save against
Rapid Vienna. United win 2-0 and progress to Champions 
League Quarter-Finals.
1997: Claims his United side would have beaten 1968 
European Cup team 10-0
1998: Feb - Becomes first goalkeeper to keep 100 clean sheets
in 2-0 win against Derby.
Jun - Helps Denmark reach World Cup Quarter-Finals.
1999: May- wins fifth Premiership champions medal when
United beat Spurs 2-1. In last game in England keeps clean
sheet to ensure United beat Newcastle 2-0 in FA Cup Final.

RECORD AT UNITED
383 appearances 317 goals 179 clean sheets

++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++

9. HOW FERGIE COMPARES TO THE GREATS

Manchester United's European Cup success, which has
completed an historic Treble, confirms Alex Ferguson's
standing as a living legend. The United boss is now just
one trophy behind Liverpool's Bob Paisley in the all-time
 standings. Heres how he compares to English club
football's other greats...

Bob Paisley (Liverpool) - League championship: 1976,
1977, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983. League Cup: 1981, 1982,
1983. European Cup: 1977, 1978, 1981. UEFA Cup: 1976.

Alex Ferguson (Manchester United) - League championship:
1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999. FA Cup: 1990, 1994, 1996,
1999. League Cup: 1992. European Cup: 1999. Cup Winners'
 Cup: 1991.

Sir Matt Busby (Manchester United) - League championship:
1952, 1956, 1957, 1965, 1967. FA Cup: 1948, 1963.
European Cup: 1968.

 Brian Clough (Derby County and Nottingham Forest) -
 League championship: 1972, 1978. League Cup: 1978, 1979,
1989, 1990. European Cup: 1979, 1980.

Bill Nicholson (Tottenham Hotspur) - League championship:
1961. FA Cup: 1961, 1962, 1967. League Cup: 1971, 1973.
Cup Winners' Cup: 1963. UEFA Cup: 1972.

 Frank Watt (Newcastle United) - League championship:
1905, 1907, 1909, 1927. FA Cup: 1910, 1924, 1932.

George Graham (Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur) - League
  championship: 1989, 1991. FA Cup: 1993. League Cup: 1987,
1993, 1999. Cup Winners' Cup: 1994.

Herbert Chapman (Huddersfield Town and Arsenal) - League
 championship: 1924, 1925, 1931, 1933. FA Cup: 1922, 1930.

 Bill Shankly (Liverpool) - League championship: 1964,
1966, 1973. FA Cup: 1965, 1974. UEFA Cup: 1973.

Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers) - League
championship: 1986, 1988, 1990, 1995. FA Cup: 1986, 1989.

 Don Revie (Leeds United) League championship: 1969, 1974.
 FA Cup: 1972. League Cup: 1968. European Fairs Cup: 1968,
1971.


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