Article 12 - Manchester United 1995–97
The summer of 1995 sent shockwaves to English football. In one summer, Manchester United sold stalwarts, strong characters and key players like Paul Ince, Andrei Kanchelskis and Mark Hughes. What was shocking was that United didn’t sign anyone to replace them. Added to that, talismanic Frenchman Eric Cantona was serving an 8-month ban from the previous season.
If this happened in today’s day and age, we would never hear the end of the negativity from fans regarding United’s prospects for the season. Things were different in 1995 though. Famously, United began the season with 1–3 defeat away to Aston Villa and Liverpool legend Alan Hansen said: “You will never win anything with kids.”
United went about their business quietly after that game with the “kids”, winning 5 in a row before the return of The King, Eric Cantona on the 1st of October 1995.
There was no bigger game for him to make his return, against bitter rivals Liverpool. He set one of the kids, Nicky Butt up to open the scoring in the 2nd minute before two Robbie Fowler goals gave Liverpool the lead. On the 70th minute, in a passage of play with Ryan Giggs, Giggs was brought down for a penalty and up-stepped Cantona to score from the spot and announce his return in a grand manner, the equalising goal for 2–2.
Cantona was a man on a mission, he gave the team a breath of fresh air like he did when he was signed in 1992. He had returned a much calmer player, quietly exerting his influence on the players on the pitch through his performances. There was a determination in his performance to repay the club, players, manager and fans for standing by him during his ban. He almost single-handedly brought the team forward in some games when the young ones were not able to find the consistency in their performances.
By October, United was out of the League Cup, stunned 0–3 by York City at Old Trafford in the first leg, a result that I got a lot of ribbing for from my classmates. In the UEFA Cup, their participation ended in the 2nd Round losing on 2–2 on away goals. The highlight of the game was Peter Schmeichel’s 89th-minute equalising goal.
Newcastle United, under Liverpool and England legend, Kevin Keegan were the entertainers of the league, leading the league and had a 12 points lead at January. Newcastle was bankrolled by Sir John Hall and had Les Ferdinand partnering Peter Beardsley up front with David Ginola providing flair from the wings. They added to that flair with the signing of Colombian Faustino Asprilla in February as well as previous season’s title winner David Batty who was not known for his flair. Batty was signed to form a partnership with Rob Lee in centre midfield. Ex-United Keith Gillespie was also in the team on the other wing.
Manchester United held their nerve and rallied to go on a strong run as they normally saved their best form for the turn of the year. Slowly, the lead was reduced to 4 points before the title decider against Newcastle at St. James’ Park. United had to win this at all costs if they were to retain any hopes of winning the league.
The heroics of Peter Schmeichel kept Newcastle’s attempts out and cometh the hour, cometh the man. Eric Cantona volleyed to give United a 1–0 win and reduced the gap to 1 point.
The pressure was now on Newcastle. Kevin Keegan cracked under the pressure with his famous rant on TV in response to Alex Ferguson’s mind games.
United won their midweek game in hand against Arsenal 1–0 to go top for the first time that season and they stayed top for the rest of it. Newcastle had faltered and United clinched the title on the last day of the season with a 3–0 win over Middlesbrough, player managed by United’s legend, Bryan Robson. Robson left United at the end of the 1993–94 season to take on this role at Middlesbrough.
The following Saturday, Manchester United was in FA Cup final action against Liverpool who turned up in eye-catching cream coloured Armani suits earning themselves the moniker, Spice Boys.
The game looked like it was heading towards extra-time until David Beckham’s corner kick was not fully cleared by Liverpool’s David James who came out to meet the corner, the ball dropped towards Cantona who still had some work to do to twist and volley it towards goal. The ball whizzed past some Liverpool bodies on the way to the back of the net with 5 minutes left to seal a double Double for United. Cantona who captained the side in the absence of Steve Bruce had capped off a season of redemption in the best way possible. United became the first team to win the Double twice.
The young ones, graduates of the Class of 92 had made Alan Hansen eat his words. Gary Neville had emerged to take Paul Parker’s place at right-back as Parker hardly featured due to injury. Injury kept out Bruce for parts of this season too and Gary Neville filled in for him too. His brother Phil too made more appearances than the previous season playing primarily at left-back. David Beckham had emerged to take Kanchelskis’ place at right-wing, Nicky Butt took Ince’s position while Paul Scholes took Hughes’ position. Giggs who is also a graduate of the Class of 92 was already an established member of the team but what is important to note was the presence of a strong and experienced spine in the team. Schmeichel in goal, Bruce, Gary Pallister and Denis Irwin in defence, Roy Keane, Brian McClair, Lee Sharpe and Giggs in midfield and Cantona up-front.
This was also the season of the infamous grey jersey that I genuinely felt was unlucky. Every time we wore this jersey we lost and only drew 1 game in it. Perhaps he might not admit it publicly but I think Alex Ferguson felt the same too which is why he made the team change out of it at half-time losing 0–3 to Southampton. We never saw United wear that jersey ever again.
The 1996–97 season started with a new goal in mind, conquering Europe. The 3 foreigner rule was now abolished and United could field their strongest team. Steve Bruce left on a free transfer to Birmingham City, Paul Parker left on a free transfer as well to join Derby County and the reason why I became a Manchester United fan, Lee Sharpe was sadly sold to Leeds United. United signed little-known Norwegians Ronny Johnsen and Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, a revelation at the recently concluded Euro 96, Czech winger with Robert Plant hairdo, Karel Poborsky and the son of the legendary Johan Cryuff, Jordi who impressed with Holland in the same tournament.
United began their campaign with a whooping 4–0 win over Newcastle United in the Charity Shield. The season started pretty well for United.
A first day 3–0 win over Wimbledon was memorable for David Beckham’s shot from the halfway line, truly announcing himself as a star with that goal. It was the first time ever I had seen a goal like that, left me feeling astonished.
In Europe, United was schooled by the defending European champions Juventus in their 1st match, losing 0–1 in Turin before they got their first win in this season’s campaign, 2–0 against Rapid Vienna at Old Trafford. United got their second win of the campaign another 2–0 win this time away to Fenerbahce before their season took an unexpected turn for the worse.
In October, United was trashed 0–5 by table-toppers Newcastle at St. James’ Park followed by another heavy 3–6 defeat to Southampton at The Dell. The shock from those two defeats had its effects in Europe as well when United lost their long unbeaten run at Old Trafford dating back to the generation of Duncan Edwards in the 1950s, losing 0–1 to Fenerbahce. United was in crisis and disarray now, they lost their 3rd game in a row in the Premier League 1–2 at home to Chelsea.
As United faced the real threat of their season disintegrating, they steadied themselves to go one of their trademark long unbeaten run in the Premier League. They went 16 matches unbeaten and were back on top by the 1st of February 1997. In that time, United crashed out of the League Cup in November, a tournament that Alex Ferguson normally fielded his reserves in.
In Europe, United lost 0–1 at home again this time to Juventus before grabbing a crucial 2–0 win over Rapid Vienna in Austria to qualify 2nd in the group for the knockout round for the first time in a long time. United’s defence of the FA Cup was ended in February after a 0–1 replay defeat to Wimbledon.
United’s closest challengers for the league title this season were Newcastle United again who had added Alan Shearer to their ranks over the summer. Shearer was much sought after by Alex Ferguson from his time at Southampton but he could never sign him. Liverpool who was the most successful English team in the 1970s and 80s and at this time had still got the most number of league titles was back challenging for the league title.
The Liverpool team was managed by Roy Evans like they were last season and had added another revelation from the Czech team of Euro 96, Patrik Berger to their ranks to add to Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman, Jamie Redknapp, Stan Collymore, Jason McAteer and legends John Barnes and Mark Wright. There was a belief amongst Liverpool fans that their long wait for the English league title and Premier League would be over this season.
While United maintained leadership in England, they faced Porto in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Not much was expected of United after scraping through the group but the real United finally showed up in Europe to put Porto to the sword, beating them 4–0 in the first leg. That result effectively confirmed United’s progress to the semi-final where they would face German team Borussia Dortmund. The dream of conquering Europe was still alive.
In April, United had their crucial top of the table clash against bitter rivals Liverpool. United won it 3–1 thanks to 2 goals by Gary Pallister and a couple of howlers from David James. It was advantage United now.
That game was sandwiched between the Champions League semi-final, United had narrowly lost 0–1 to Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final. United lost the second leg 0–1 at Old Trafford despite peppering the Dortmund goal with most of the match to put an end to their hopes of conquering Europe.
That elimination put a downer to the season, United drew their next 3 matches in the Premier League to seal the league title by the penultimate game of the season. United carried the trophy on the last day of the Premier League season at Old Trafford with a 2–0 win against West Ham United.
Winning the Premier League should not be looked at lightly despite the dominance in England since 1992–93 but what was most impressive was United’s ability to bounce back from 2 heavy back to back defeats and a slump in form to win the Premier League. There has not been another team until today that has shown the ability to survive 2 heavy defeats back-to-back in a season and end the season as champions.
The young players, Gary, Phil Neville, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and David Beckham had visibly grown in confidence and maturity this season. Scholes who started 1994–95 as a forward had started moving back into central midfield. Beckham’s set-piece deliveries and the ability to strike from distance was getting attention. Among the new signings, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer was the revelation of the season, showing his predatory instincts in front of goal. Ronny Johnsen showed his versatility to play in central defence and midfield. Poborsky and Cryuff didn’t have quite as good a season as expected at the time of their signing.
It was no doubt that all the focus and attention was on conquering Europe from the start of the season but the failure to reach the final made for a disappointing end to the season.
I really felt that the failure and disappointed caused Eric Cantona to announce his shock retirement from football in the summer of 1997 at the age of 30.
