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The
Devil's Advocate "REDitorial"
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sky at night UNITED delight!"
www.red11.org DAILY NEWS
Date: Sun May 23 1999
Mail: barry@www.red11.org
This Issue:
1. FA Cup Final Result!
2. Manchester United win F.A. Cup for third Double
3. Manchester United outclass Newcastle for third Double
4. SHERINGHAM WAS THE KEY SAYS FERGIE
5. NOW FOR EUROPE, ROARS FERGUSON
6. Ferguson ready to conquer Europe
7. United's final barrier
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
**********************************************
* MANCHESTER UNITED ARE *
* TRIPLE DOUBLE CHAMPIONS *
**********************************************
* *
* 1999 PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS *
* & *
* 1999 F.A. CUP CHAMPIONS *
* *
*** CHAMPIONS *** CHAMPIONS *** CHAMPIONS ***
TWO Trophies - 1 to go!
************ 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: http://www.red11.org/mufc/sound/mp3/99/Barcelona.mp3
+ Players thoughts before the cup final: 134k 2mins
http://www.red11.org/mufc/sound/mp3/99/player_talk__on_cupfinal.rm
MUFC New Single:
For those in the UK, The 1999 Manchester United Football
Squad has released a new single.
It's called Lift It High (Its all about belief).
--------------------------------------
Daily RED Trivia SUNDAY 23nd May 1999
23/5/1884:
Jimmy Turnbull born in East Plain, Stirlingshire. Turnbull
joined United from Leyton and made his debut at Chelsea in
September 1907. He won a League Championship medal in 1908 and
an FA Cup Winners medal in 1909. Between 1907-10 he made 76
appearances and scored 42 goals. He transferred to Bradford in
September 1910.
23/5/1996:
Gary and Phil Neville play for England against China, and
become the 9th pair of brothers to play together for England.
*********************
Bill's Daily Comment:
Barry is off to Barcelona - I'll meet up with him on
Wednesday for the EUROPEAN CUP FINAL!
CONGRATULATIONS TO REDS ALL OVER THE WORLD!!!
TRIPLE DOUBLE CHAMPIONS!!!
WHAT A GREAT TIME TO BE RED!!!
********************
**** LATEST BARCE NEWS ****
How to be recognised by list members in a crowd THE SIGN IS A HANDKERCHIEF
tied with 4 knots on your head! If you feel like it call out "GUMBI!" [NOT a joke]
MORE..............
MUSCS SA Secretary Ethel Sleith called from SA today
SHE WILL BE IN BARCE! She flies in on Monday afternoon IBERIA IB650 17.15pm
and will be joining us all!!!!
GOOD LUCK REDS WHATEVER HAPPENS!
*** Barry OFF THE NET until SAT 29th ****
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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!
http://www.iol.ie/~redcafe/texts/report98/domestic/arse-fa2.htm
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
Final Games:
May
22 FAC Final Wembley Newcastle (N) Live on Sky Sports UK
26 European Cup Final Bayern Munich Nou Camp
UNITED Stats v All teams:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/stats/
*** FINAL PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AS AT 16/05/99 ***
Pos Team P W D L F A W D L F A GD Pts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Manchester United 38 14 4 1 45 18 8 9 2 35 19 43 79
2 Arsenal 38 14 5 0 34 5 8 7 4 25 12 42 78
3 Chelsea 38 12 6 1 29 13 8 9 2 28 17 27 75
4 Leeds United 38 12 5 2 32 9 6 8 5 30 25 28 67
5 West Ham United 38 11 3 5 32 26 5 6 8 14 27 -7 57
6 Aston Villa 38 10 3 6 33 28 5 7 7 18 18 5 55
7 Liverpool 38 10 5 4 44 24 5 4 10 24 25 19 54
8 Derby County 38 8 7 4 22 19 5 6 8 18 26 -5 52
9 Middlesbrough 38 7 9 3 25 18 5 6 8 23 36 -6 51
10 Leicester City 38 7 6 6 25 25 5 7 7 15 21 -6 49
11 Tottenham Hotspur 38 7 7 5 28 26 4 7 8 19 24 -3 47
12 Sheffield Wednesday 38 7 5 7 20 15 6 2 11 21 27 -1 46
13 Newcastle United 38 7 6 6 26 25 4 7 8 22 29 -6 46
14 Everton 38 6 8 5 22 12 5 2 12 20 35 -5 43
15 Coventry City 38 8 6 5 26 21 3 3 13 13 30 -12 42
16 Wimbledon 38 7 7 5 22 21 3 5 11 18 42 -23 42
17 Southampton 38 9 4 6 29 26 2 4 13 8 38 -27 41
18 Charlton Athletic 38 4 7 8 20 20 4 5 10 21 36 -15 36
19 Blackburn Rovers 38 6 5 8 21 24 1 9 9 17 28 -14 35
20 Nottingham Forest 38 3 7 9 18 31 4 2 13 17 38 -34 30
*** 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 Brøndby 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 MANCHESTER UNITED v BAYERN MUNICH
Venue Camp Nou (Estadi FC Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain
Date Wednesday 26 May 1999 Kick-Off 20.45 CET (19.45 GMT)
>->->->->->->->->->->->->->->->->->->->->->->->->->->->->->
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
CONGRATS to REDS ALL over the world PREMIER LEAGUE & FA CUP CHAMPIONS 1999!
Subject: FA Cup Final Result!
Manchester United 2 Newcastle United 0 - result
LONDON, May 22 - Manchester United beat Newcastle United
2-0 in the English Football Association (F.A.) Cup final at Wembley on Saturday.
Scorers: Teddy Sheringham 11, Paul Scholes 53
Halftime: 1-0; Attendance: 79,101
Teams:
Manchester United: 1-Peter Schmeichel; 12-Philip Neville, 4-David May, 5-Ronny
Johnsen, 2-Gary Neville; 7-David Beckham, 18-Paul Scholes (6-Jaap Stam 77),
16-Roy Keane (10-Teddy Sheringham 9), 11-Ryan Giggs; 9-Andy Cole (19-Dwight
Yorke 61), 20-Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Newcastle United: 13-Steve Harper; 38-Andy Griffin, 16-Laurent Charvet, 34-Nikos
Dabizas, 4-Didier Domi; 24-Nolberto Solano (10-Silvio Maric 68), 11-Gary Speed,
12-Dietmar Hamann (20-Duncan Ferguson 46), 7-Robert Lee; 14-Temuri Ketsbaia
(17-Stephen Glass 79), 9-Alan Shearer
Referee: Peter Jones
CONGRATS to REDS ALL over the world PREMIER LEAGUE & FA CUP CHAMPIONS 1999!
Subject: Manchester United win F.A. Cup for third Double
By Mike Collett
LONDON, May 22 - Manchester United outclassed Newcastle
United 2-0 to win the F.A. Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday and
complete their third English Cup and League double in six seasons.
Manchester United, who clinched the title last Sunday, were superior to Newcastle
for most of the match and won with an 11th minute goal from substitute Teddy
Sheringham and a well-taken 53rd minute strike from Paul Scholes.
The victory keeps the newly-crowned champions on course for what would be a
unique treble of League, Cup and European Cup by an English club if they beat
Germany's Bayern Munich in next Wednesday's European Cup Final in Barcelona.
It also meant that Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson became the most
successful manager in the F.A. Cup's 127-year history with his fourth victory after
United wins in 1990, 1994 and 1996.
Apart from two spells at the beginning of each half, Newcastle never got into the
match and they were overrun on Saturday just as easily as they were a year ago
when they lost by the same score to Arsenal in last year's final.
Manchester United took control of the match soon after Sheringham replaced
injured skipper Roy Keane after nine minutes after Keane limped off with an ankle
injury following an early collision with Newcastle's Gary Speed.
Sheringham, intercepting a pass bound for Ryan Giggs, played a one-two with Paul
Scholes, and ran on to the return pass to sweep the ball through the legs of
Newcastle keeper Steve Harper to score.
He had been on the field for just 80 seconds.
Manchester United went 2-0 up when Newcastle defender Nikos Dabizas cleared
straight into the teeth of a United attack, allowing Sheringham to find Scholes with a
back pass and he made no mistake with a powerful 10 metre shot.
It was Manchester United's 10th F.A. Cup win in total -- stretching their own record
-- and their fourth in the last 10 years. Newcastle last won the Cup in 1955 and have
now lost three finals since then in 1974, 1998 and this year.
CONGRATS to REDS ALL over the world PREMIER LEAGUE & FA CUP CHAMPIONS 1999!
Subject: Manchester United outclass Newcastle for third Double
By Mike Collett
LONDON, May 22 - Manchester United stayed on course for a
glittering treble when they beat Newcastle United 2-0 in the F.A. Cup final at
Wembley on Saturday to clinch their third English Cup and League double in six
seasons.
Manchester United, who took the title last Sunday, were superior to Newcastle for
most of the match and won with an 11th minute goal from substitute Teddy
Sheringham and a well-taken 53rd minute strike from Paul Scholes.
Scholes' goal was a fantastic consolation for the England striker who is suspended
from next week's European Cup Final against Bayern Munich in Barcelona and who
went into the match fighting a chest complaint.
The victory keeps the newly-crowned champions on course for what would be a
unique treble of League, Cup and European Cup by an English club if they beat
Bayern Munich.
It also meant that Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson became the most
successful manager in the F.A. Cup's 127-year history with his fourth victory after
earlier United wins in 1990, 1994 and 1996.
Manchester United, now unbeaten in 36 matches, are the first club to complete the
Double three times.
Apart from two spells at the beginning of each half, Newcastle were overrun on
Saturday just as easily as they were a year ago when they lost the final by the
same score to Arsenal.
Manchester United took control of the match when Sheringham scored just 80
seconds after he had replaced injured skipper Roy Keane who had collided with
Newcastle's Gary Speed and limped off after nine minutes with an ankle injury.
Sheringham, intercepting a pass bound for Ryan Giggs, played a one-two with
Scholes who split the Newcastle defence with a return pass.
Sheringham then glided into space past three Newcastle players before sweeping
the ball through the legs of goalkeeper Steve Harper to score.
"It's amazing how this game changes around, one minute you're down and the next
you're up and on the pitch and you've got to do it," said the substitute, who could
have had a second when he chipped against the bar in the closing stages.
Manchester United went 2-0 up early in the second half after a spell when
Newcastle looked like coming back.
In a position of no real imminent danger, Newcastle defender Nikos Dabizas cleared
straight into the teeth of the United front line and allowed Sheringham to find
Scholes with a back pass. He made no mistake with his powerful 10 metre shot.
"I don't think it was the best of goals, I didn't hit it too well. But thankfully it went in,"
he said modestly.
It was Manchester United's 10th F.A. Cup win in total -- stretching their own record
-- and their fourth in 10 years. They also won the Double in 1994 and 1996.
Newcastle have not won a major domestic honour since the F.A. Cup in 1955 and
have now lost three cup finals since then in 1974, 1998 and this year.
Yet Newcastle started as if determined to erase the memory of last season's abject
defeat and it was during this period of initial aggression that Keane was hurt.
Already nursing an ankle injury, and hoping to put a miserable few days behind him
when he spent a night in a prison cell after a fracas in a wine bar, Keane soon found
his season over as he is suspended from the European Cup Final.
His replacement had an instant impact.
Not only did Sheringham score and then make the second goal, his intelligent
touches and passes drew valuable contributions from Ryan Giggs, David Beckham
and Scholes as United at times strung passes together at will.
Defender Gary Neville said he and Beckham were among those who had felt
off-colour before the match. "But I don't think that you could have kept us out of this
game," he added.
Newcastle were never able to harnass the talents of Alan Shearer in attack. His
partnership with Temuri Ketsbaia produced little of note and apart from a first half
shot from Dietmar Hamman and a second half-strike from Ketsbaia which hit the
post, Newcastle never threatened.
Andy Cole was replaced by Dwight Yorke after an hour, and Giggs, Sheringham and
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer all had chances to add to United's total.
But in the end two goals was more than enough to secure Manchester United's 11th
major honour of the decade -- with a 12th a real possibility next Wednesday.
CONGRATS to REDS ALL over the world PREMIER LEAGUE & FA CUP CHAMPIONS 1999!
Subject: SHERINGHAM WAS THE KEY SAYS FERGIE
Manchester United manager Alex
Ferguson paid tribute to Teddy
Sheringham after the striker scored
one goal and made the other in the
2-0 win over Newcastle.
"Teddy was magnificent, the key to
the victory," said Ferguson. "I
wasn't sure whether to put on Jesper
Blomqvist when Roy Keane came off but
I felt with Teddy we would have three
players up front who could score
goals, and then of course there is
Paul Scholes.
"We got a break with the first goal
but I'm so proud of what we've
achieved. It's great for the club and
for the players. They've been
brilliant."
Sheringham admitted that he was
disappointed to miss out on the
starting XI, but added: "That's the
way it is in this game - one minute
you're down, the next you're up. But
obviously I'm delighted. We needed
the second goal to take the pressure
off and once we got that we were home
and dry."
Ryan Giggs added: "We were helped by
an early goal and from that point on
all we had to do was keep possession
as much as we could. Losing Keane was
a great loss at the beginning but to
be fair the lads that came on did a
fantastic job. From this point we'll
have a bit of a rest and then look
forward to Wednesday.
Paul Scholes, who scored the second
goal, said: "It was my third Cup
Final but my first start and I was
just happy to get a goal and win.
It's always close when you are only
1-0 ahead and we needed a second
goal. Obviously I'm suspended for the
European Cup Final but I'll be behind
the lads all the way and I don't see
any reason why we can't win it."
Those sentiments were echoed by David
Beckham, who insisted: "We can win
the Treble and now we have to
concentrate on Wednesday. This
victory is as sweet as all the others
and although we didn't play as well
as we could we're pleased to get the
result."
CONGRATS to REDS ALL over the world PREMIER LEAGUE & FA CUP CHAMPIONS 1999!
Subject: NOW FOR EUROPE, ROARS FERGUSON
Manchester United manager Alex
Ferguson paid tribute to his Double
winners after their 2-0 FA Cup Final
victory over Newcastle United at
Wembley.
He said: "That's fantastic - three
Doubles in five years. The boys were
marvellous.
"This has been a tremendous season
and once again the players produced
it when it mattered."
A flu bug in the United camp
threatened to disrupt Ferguson's
plans and there was a further blow
when skipper Roy Keane went off with
an ankle injury after eight minutes.
Ferguson said: "We tried to
reorganise the team after Keane went
off but Teddy Sheringham was
marvellous, great movement and a
terrific finish.
"We had big a decision to make about
whether to risk some players but you
have to trust them to tell you if
they are okay. Now we can start
thinking about Europe."
Dwight Yorke said: "It has been a
tremendous season - the lads were
fantastic again. We've got two
trophies now so we can go all out for
the third."
Scorer Sheringham said: "It's amazing
how this game changes around. One
minute you are down, the next you are
up.
"We had problems with viruses but we
got on with it and made the most of
what we've got."
Andy Cole claimed: "It's a great
feeling. We've worked hard this
season, first the championship and
now this."
CONGRATS to REDS ALL over the world PREMIER LEAGUE & FA CUP CHAMPIONS 1999!
Subject: Ferguson ready to conquer Europe
Glenn Gibbons meets Alex
Ferguson on the eve the biggest
week of his career
Saturday May 22, 1999
Nobody will ever mistake Manchester
United for anything other than the product
of Alex Ferguson's irresistible will. The
team who, on Wednesday, attempt to
return the championship of Europe to Old
Trafford after an absence of 31 years are
so identifiably Ferguson's that the mark he
has put on them might have been made
with a branding iron.
Of all the elements assembled in a football
team, it is this collective resolve which is
most likely to unhinge Bayern Munich,
undermining the Germans' own,
characteristic self-certainty and leaving
them vulnerable. It is also the quality
which deepens the respect and the faith
the manager reserves for his players, the
thing which underpins the conviction he
feels every time they go to work.
It was no accident when Ferguson,
addressing the euphoric 50,000 as they
acclaimed a fifth league championship in
seven years last Sunday, emphasised the
vigour which is at the core of their
success. They are a fantastic bunch of
players and they played with the style of
Manchester United,' he told the crowd.
But, more importantly,' he added, they
played with the spirit of Manchester
United.'
Every conversation with Ferguson is a
rewarding reminder of the doggedness
which was born and grew so strong in the
environs of the shipyards in the south-west
of Glasgow, but it is when assignments
such as the one at the Nou Camp
Stadium in Barcelona loom that he is
most animated and most obviously driven.
Wherever the talk may wander, he returns
regularly to the moral fibre of his team,
stressing its importance when the great
occasions are upon them, when the
glittering prizes are on the line. Ferguson
has had this determination since he first
kicked a ball, but his most telling gift is
the ability to transfer it to others.
He has often looked at the calibre of
player in Manchester United teams before
his arrival in 1986 and wondered how they
managed to go 26 years without winning a
championship. The answer seems
obvious, that his managerial predecessors
since Matt Busby's retirement were unable
to imbue the talents with the bravura that
is the hallmark of Ferguson's teams.
At Aberdeen, his greatest achievement
was not the collection of ten trophies -
three league titles, four Scottish Cups,
one Scottish league Cup, the European
Cup Winners Cup and the European Super
Cup - but the confounding of a century of
history and tradition by creating groups of
players who could intimidate the Old Firm.
This was an astounding achievement, but
it was the one he recognised as
paramount the day he walked into
Pittodrie in 1978. He knew that, by
disturbing the old order, the rewards would
flow as a natural consequence. Then, as
now, there were players already at the
club who had the no-surrender mentality;
others required the transplant.
When you have that extra thing that
comes from within,' said Ferguson, just
before beginning final preparations for
yesterday's FA Cup final, you'll find it
when you need it and these boys will find
it down there in Barcelona. It's what we
look for in players, it's what elevates them
above the ordinary.
We've been fortunate in having a lot of
young players here with this quality, but
it's bringing in the Schmeichels, the
Keanes, the Stams, the Yorkes and the
Coles that makes the difference, that
completes the picture. That's why it's so
difficult for me to improve this squad
through the transfer market.
'When you look at what we have, we could
only improve it by getting players with the
same character and there aren't that many
around. We would have to bring in people
who would be the very best in the world.'
Even the loss of his captain, Roy Keane,
because of suspension - incontestably the
most influential figure in the team - is not
enough to dilute Ferguson's belief that
United will overcome Bayern. But he does
concede that those who carry the English
banner will have to switch to a different
style of play without the imposing Irish
midfielder.
I'm not going to minimise Roy Keane's
importance to us,' he said. But we have
the same situation now as we had when
people said we couldn't play without Bryan
Robson. We did manage to overcome that
and we simply have to do the same now
without Keane. We have others here who
do well for us.
But without the control that Keane brings
to our game, we will have to ensure that
the play is pacey. It will be a quick game,
because we'll see to that. I think it's one
advantage we have over Bayern, that we
have more pace. That's what we'll have to
do, make sure we exploit any little
advantage we have. They may have
difficulty handling our pace, but they'll try
to find a way of survival, because it's what
they're good at.'
This is Ferguson's third European final,
having won the previous two, both in the
Cup Winners Cup, with Aberdeen in 1983
and United in 1991. The opposition on
those occasions could not be said to have
been second-grade, as Real Madrid were
overcome by the Scottish club in
Gothenburg and Barcelona were the
victims in Rotterdam.
But Wednesday's occasion is different
because of the constricted preparation
time allowed to Ferguson and his players,
thanks to their success on so many fronts
this season. As he did previously, the
manager will billet his team well outside
the city, on the Costa Brava, and work
primarily on their mental fortitude.
When Aberdeen played Real,' he said, we
managed to bring forward a league game
against Kilmarnock to the previous
Thursday, which gave us a full six days of
preparation. Before the Rotterdam game,
we were able to postpone our match with
Spurs until the Saturday after the
European final, which allowed us ten days
of rest and preparation.
This time, of course, the Wembley match
is only four days before, so all we'll be
doing in Spain is repairing the limbs. We'll
do more talking than ever, so the
preparation will be mental, rather than
practical work. We'll have a little session
on the Monday and then another at the
Nou Camp on Tuesday, the night before
the game.
We have to make sure the players are
calmed down about this match. Despite
how well they've already done, big games
are big games and they have to get the
proper sense of it.'
Ferguson's admiration for Bayern and their
coach, Ottmar Hitzfeld, is deep and
genuine and he readily admits that he
marked them early as probably the most
formidable opponents in the entire
tournament. Nothing that has happened
since their first meeting, in the league
stages of the competition, has altered his
impression.
There is no doubt Bayern are as good as
anyone we could have played in the final,
and we have played some fancy
opponents already. They are a big,
powerful team, and our most important
players could be Schmeichel, Stam and
our front players. But what will be a help is
the pitch at the Nou Camp.
It is huge, at least four yards, maybe six,
wider than Old Trafford, and that will suit
us perfectly. It will give the wide players,
like Beckham and Giggs, the space they
need and it is something we may be able
to exploit.
Bayern have their share of good players, of
course. Their forward, Alexander Zickler, is
a handful, while Lothar Matthaus and
Stefan Effenberg are players of influence.
But we're not going to make demons of
them. We should have beaten them in
Munich, when we lost a daft equaliser to
them in injury time.'
Ferguson's respect for Hitzfeld
undoubtedly derives from his recognition of
the German as a mirror image of himself,
a manager who has good control' of a club
which has proved to be too severe a test
for previous head coaches.
They've had a few in recent years who
found it difficult to control the club,' said
Ferguson. There has always been a
collision of egos over there that has made
it difficult for the coaches. The problem is
that many of their big stars seem to do
paid columns in newspapers and they can
be quite outspoken about each other.
That has caused friction and led to
difficulties with internal squabbling.
Hitzfeld has imposed control like nobody
else and you can see where that has
taken them. They're not only in the
European Cup final, but they're the best
team in Germany by a distance. They won
the league so long ago that their run-up to
the match with us has been like playing a
series of friendlies to keep them ticking
over. Ours has been somewhat different.'
With two draws already against Bayern,
Ferguson will devote some time to
practising penalty kicks, given the sound
possibility of a decisive shoot-out. His
takers will be Denis Irwin, Jaap Stam,
David Beckham, Jesper Blomqvist and
Dwight Yorke or Teddy Sheringham.
If there is one aspect of the match that
makes him slightly apprehensive, it is the
taking of penalty kicks. I hope it doesn't
go to that, because I've a terrible record. I
lost three with Aberdeen - two against
Celtic, one against Dynamo Berlin - and
two with United, against Southampton and
Moscow Torpedo.
But we won't have that in our minds.
They're a good team, but we have a great
chance over there. When we get ourselves
right, we always have a great chance.'
CONGRATS to REDS ALL over the world PREMIER LEAGUE & FA CUP CHAMPIONS 1999!
Subject: United's final barrier
Roy Fairbairn on Olivier Kahn,
Bayern's outstanding goalkeeper
Saturday May 22, 1999
In the final analysis one man could stand
between Manchester United and the The
Triple Crown. That man is Bayern
Munich's player of the year, their
inspirational goalkeeper and Germany's
No 1, Oliver Kahn.
Since the Beckenbauer era more than 20
years ago, no player has done more than
Kahn through consistently brilliant
performances to establish the Munich club
among Europe's elite. In an outstanding
season he has conceded only 20
Bundesliga goals.
It pleased Kahn greatly to be mentioned in
the same sentence as Beckenbauer. But
what he finds even more satisfying is the
positive image and reputation he has
earned outside Germany, especially in
England.
'It's because of my mentality,' he said. 'I'm
a fighter. In many ways I'm like Peter
Schmeichel. I'm loud. I'm aggressive. I'm
ambitious and I'm impatient. I work hard at
trying to be a success, and it's always
satisfying to know people recognise that
and respect you for it.
'Of course, I'm very happy to have a good
reputation in England. Ever since I first
played football I've wanted to play for one
of the big clubs in England. Most kids in
Germany think that. It's a dream which I
hope will come true. My contract with
Bayern runs out next year. If everything
works out okay I'll perhaps get the chance
then to play in the Premiership. That
would be great.'
In stark contrast to his image abroad and
despite his success with Bayern, Kahn -
who turned professional only after
completing a business studies course
after leaving school with top grades - is
regarded as hot-headed, irresponsible and
unreliable by the German media, who have
dubbed him Wilde Olli. It has been that
way since Bertie Vogts rejected him and
preferred Andy Kopke as national team
goalkeeper.
For Vogts, Kahn was always
over-motivated, always trying too hard to
prove himself, and impatient. 'In these
circumstances he would have been too
much of a risk. One moment of madness
by one player can put a whole team and
the result at risk,' argued Vogts.
Only after Kopke had retired from
international football after last summer's
World Cup, and Vogts later quit, was
Kahn accepted as Germany's first choice
goalkeeper, realising a dream that started
when he first played in goal as a
six-year-old for a junior team at his first
club, Karlsruhe.
More recently, Kahn has caused further
controversy over his wild behaviour in the
Bundesliga. He made headlines for biting
an opponent in one game, then getting
himself ordered off in another for
unsporting behaviour.
The biting incident came during last
month's highly charged fixture against
Borussia Dortmund. Kahn sank his teeth
into the cheek of Dortmund's striker Heiko
Herrlich in one of many explosive clashes.
After the game the Dortmund player
nevertheless assured journalists: 'Kahn's
bark is still worse than his bite.'
Ottmar Hitzfeld, Bayern's coach, found the
incident a lot less amusing. 'The incident
was unworthy of a world class
goalkeeper,' he said.
The red card incident earlier this month
resulted from Kahn conceding a penalty
then booting the ball into the grandstand
in anger. It cost him a one-match
suspension.
It also signalled a new challenge for his
position as Germany's No 1 by Jens
Lehmann, Dortmund's goalkeeper. 'Kahn's
aggressive behaviour shows he is still too
irresponsible,' Lehmann argued.
Lehmann was preferred for last month's
friendly against Scotland by Vogts'
successor, Erik Ribbech, and has since
publicly called on Ribbech to name him as
Kahn's permanent replacement.
Kahn, who will be 30 in three weeks' time,
blames his actions on the permanent
exposure to which his media critics
subject him. 'In any case it's all greatly
exaggerated simply because it's me who's
involved. Everything about Bayern Munich
gets double exposure, that's why we are
known as FC Hollywood,' he says.
'The criticism has nothing to do with my
form and ability as a goalkeeper. So I can
live with it. I'm a competitive sort of person
and these incidents happen in
professional football. For me the only thing
that counts is success.'
He concedes however that sometimes,
watching television replays of the
incidents, he finds it difficult to recognise
himself. 'Kahn the footballer and Kahn the
private person are two totally different
individuals,' he says. He is not always
'Wilde Olli' as the German press call him.
CONGRATS to REDS ALL over the world PREMIER LEAGUE & FA CUP CHAMPIONS 1999!
Pic Link today is http://www.red11.org/mufc/images/99/facupfinal/
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