Following Manchester United’s third triumph in Europe’s premier competition, questions have quite naturally been asked about where this United team stands in comparison with the great teams of the past.

And of course, comparisons have to be made with the last United team to win the European Cup – the treble winners of 1999.

As an aside, it is worth pointing out that United came exceptionally close to winning the FA Cup this year. In their quarter-final tie with Portsmouth they totally dominated Harry Redknapp’s side and could well have won had they put their chances away or been on the right side of some refereeing decisions.

'The football played between the brilliant triumvirate of Tevez, Rooney and Ronaldo will be remembered for many years to come...'


Nevertheless the FA Cup has been devalued to such a great extent these days that there is no one who could claim that the 1999 team was better than the current side on the back of their triumph over Newcastle at Wembley.

It is fascinating to compare both sides, not least because it has shown how Sir Alex Ferguson has moved with the times but also shown the importance of a big squad – and this is in comparison with the rather large '99 squad.

Despite Edwin Van der Sar's heroics in the Moscow final, Peter Schmeichel will always be rated as a better goalkeeper than the Dutchman. The Great Dane was simply one of the best goalkeepers to have ever played the beautiful game – up there with Gordon Banks and Lev Yashin.

Both defences are class acts. The backline of '99 featured Jaap Stam, Johnson, Gadry Neville and Denis Irwin. Of these players, the Dutch centre back and Gary Neville, in his prime, would walk into today’s side. Equally, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra would also feature in the '99 team.

Midfield was the key to the brilliance of the treble winning team. The midfield of David Beckham, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs dominated English football for a number of seasons and was arguably the best midfield four to grace the old Premiership.

Of the current team only Cristiano Ronaldo would get into the midfield, and to choose between Beckham and the Portuguese winger would be a close call.

Whilst United have had a great season, not all the current midfielders are of the very highest level. Michael Carrick and Owen Hargreaves are class acts but they are not in the same league as Keane in '99. In addition, Scholes and Giggs today are not the players they were and Anderson and Nani still have plenty of years to write themselves into the record books.

It has been well documented that the current United side must be the first team to win the Champions League without a recognised striker. Whilst squad strength is a key to the modern game, the '99 squad contained four strikers of the highest level.

Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer all played at the highest level for many years and made unique contributions to the treble season. Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney would also be up there in the pantheons of United greats.

The football played between the brilliant triumvirate of Tevez, Rooney and Ronaldo will be remembered for many years to come and all neutrals must hope that they continue to grace English football for the foreseeable future.

Having analysed both teams, the best XI from a team combining both 1999 and 2008 United teams would be as follows:

Peter Schmeichel; Gary Neville ('99), Rio Ferdinand, Jaap Stam, Patrice Evra; Cristiano Ronaldo; Paul Scholes ('99), Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs (99); Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez.

More than anything, an analysis of both sides proves just how great the 1999 side was, especially as the players that still currently play for United (Neville, Scholes and Giggs) were at the peak of their careers.

The bottom line though has to be the greatness of Sir Alex Ferguson. If one includes the 1994 United side, Fergie has developed three quite brilliant teams and during a time when football has undergone a huge amount of change.

Both the 1999 and 2008 sides needed dramatic late drama to win the Champions League but both have written their names into the history books. Luckily many of us have been priveliged to witness both teams. The difference now is that by winning in Europe again next season, the current side could establish themselves as the best ever Manchester United team.

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