The Glory Years
After 1993's title win, many United fans wondered if the team can maintain the momentum to win more titles and challenge Europe's biggest soccer prize, the European Cup. We did, not to mention title win in 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000; but FA Cup in 94, 96, 99 AND THE EUROPE'S BIGGEST SOCCER PRIZE, THE EUROPEAN CUP IN 1999!
Let's take a look on the brief summary of the wonderful years.
1993 -1994 The Double
In this year saw United in devastating form that saw United winning the Double of the Premiership and FA Cup. They blasted anything in fornt of them. No near challengers can come near them. By Christmas, they have a huge gap of 12 points.
But due to commitments in FA Cup and League Cup, United dropped some points and prosponed several fixtures till the nearest challenger Blackburn Rovers managed to claw back to just one point behind United. United maintained the one point lead. Blackburn's defeat at Conventry on the second last game of the season gave United an inaccessible lead of seven points. At the last kick, United took the title by a massive nine points.
United did not do well in European Cup as we were knocked out by Galatasary of Turkey in the second round, on the cruel fate of away goals scored. The Turks did well to go for a 3-3 draw at Old Trafford and held United scoreless in the second game in Turkey. The competition was in a knockout format where away goals or penaltly shootout will decide a winner at the end of the two games.
United V Galatasary.
In the FA Cup, Eric Cantona was instrumental in leading the team to the title. They blasted all in front of them, with Norwich, Chalton, Wimbledon, Oldham were beaten. The game against Oldham was one of the most shocking, Oldham took the lead in extra time. With a minute remaining, Hughes equalised to set up a replay at Maine Road, which United won.
Chelsea, the team that beat Man Utd 1-0 home and away in the league were the opponents in the final. But this time Eric Cantona stole the show with two penalties, Hughes and McClair scored the others. 4-0 the final result and the double is won.
United did not win the League Cup despite going to the final. Aston Villa avenged their title loss the year before with a 3-1 win over United. That win for United would be the first English Treble.