Manchester United FC are one of the biggest clubs in the world because of the players the club has and the way they play. No club could be great without having great players and strong characters with an even better manager leading them. United were blessed to have them all, especially when Sir Alex Ferguson was at the helm of Manchester United.
Ferguson has had some great teams over his 26 –year managerial rein at United, but there was something common in almost all the teams he had. He always taught his players to have a never-give-up attitude and fight until the final whistle is blown. Towards the latter half of his managerial career, his United side always had then knack of scoring late and important goals.
The added time was also known as ‘Fergie-time’ as United were so famous for scoring late goals. The Red Devils have achieved some stunning comebacks in the Premier League era. Let us have a look at the best come-backs United have managed in the Premier League era.
#3-MANCHESTER UNITED 5-2 TOTTENHAM, 2008-09
Match Highlights – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0PG6FN01ZM
In the 2008/09 season in the Premier League, Manchester United, as usual, led the race for the league for most of the season. But Liverpool were very close to United and were pushing for a title race under manager Rafa Benitez. Towards the end of the season, United faced a tough Tottenham where they needed to win to maintain the gap on top of the league table.
To the surprise of everyone, the Londoners led by a couple of goals at half-time against a star-studded United side. It is reported that Ferguson went livid and gave an inspiring speech at half-time to restore faith in the Red Devils. In the 57th minute, United got a controversial penalty, which was dispatched by Cristiano Ronaldo.
After that goal, United didn’t look back and scored three more goals in just 14 minutes time, from Rooney and Ronaldo. To cap off the victory, Berbatov scored in the 71st minute and United won 5-2 and ultimately went on to win the league with a 4-point gap over Liverpool.
#2-JUVENTUS 2-3 MANCHESTER UNITED, 1998-99
Match Highlights – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiv-X3Dd_uo&t=282s
It was the second leg of the Champions League semi-final stage where Juventus hosted Manchester United. United played very good football that season with Yorke and Cole scoring the goals and Keane leading the side well. The Red Devils had made it a habit to score late goals that season and always had the zeal and passion in them to come back and win.
United had luckily drawn in the home leg despite Juventus dominating the entirety of the game with Zidane and co. With just 11 minutes into the second leg, the Red Devils found themselves 2-0 down and 3-1 on aggregate. United had a monumental job at their hands and had to score a minimum of two goals and not concede anymore to reach the finals.
Up stepped United captain Roy Keane to inspire the Red Devils, with a performance which is arguably one of the greatest in the Champions League. Yorke and Cole scored one goal each later in the game to show United’s ‘never say never’ attitude and took United to the final. Keane bossed the midfield with Scholes, but both players got yellow cards and thus had to miss the final.
The Red Devils had come back from a 2-nil deficit to win 3-2 at Turin, against a side which was the favourite to win the Champions League. Juventus consisted the likes of Zidane, Inzaghi, Conte and Deschamps and Roy Keane was still the best player on the pitch.
#1-BAYERN MUNICH 1-2 MANCHESTER UNITED, 1998-99
Match Highlights – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=458CiSLm1vc&t=1s
Arguably one of the greatest comebacks in the history of Champions League, when United faced Bayern Munich in the final of 1998-99 season. The Red Devils had secured the double and were looking to win the treble for the first time in history. But Bayern Munich were the clear favourites, as United were without their two main midfielders, Keane and Scholes, who were suspended.
Bayern took the early lead with the help of a free-kick in the sixth minute and were unlucky not to score again as they hit the cross-bar. The match was dominated by the German club but the Red Devils held tight and didn’t allow Bayern to score. United, that season, scored a lot of late goals and came back from difficult situations, thus the players didn’t give up.
Teddy Sheringham scored with a header in the 91st minute, which levelled the game up. After the goal, United players were confident about getting the second goal and pushed to get the victory. In the dying moments of the game, United got another corner and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored from it to take United to the pinnacle of success.
With that victory, United complete the comeback, won the Champions League title and secured their first-ever treble.
