Expecting City to win the Cup wasn’t a very good idea
Inside Track | Joe Caroll
It’s not smart to get ahead of yourself. I did a fortnight ago, and the result is, a re-write of a story I had prepared for this page last week. It hadn’t to be scrapped in its entirety, just needed a bit of doctoring.
“Serves you right”, said one of those about the place from where these words are emanating. She is a Man U fanatic, so much so, that instead of being on the chariot for Inniskeen last Saturday week shouting for the real Reds, she stayed at home to watch the others at Wembley.
This is what was written ahead of the Cup final weekend, me thinking City were certainties: “United may not have been able to roadblock the juggernaut steered by their fierce Manchester rivals at Wembley on Saturday, but at least they have a record that will never be broken.
“I was less than gently reminded of this (the record) by the Man U followers closest to me. The same lot weren’t exactly tickled pink by a remark I made about United last week.”
And what is it I said? “In the chance that there might be some new this page, or others who are not but can’t remember, let me repeat the offending piece. It was that United wouldn’t be a factor in the league just ended. Best had I left it that, but when I said that my reasoning was based on Harry Maguire being retained, well, there was a family feud bigger than anything you’d see on smile-free EastEnders.”
Now, we are up to date. The record? We’re turning the clock back – nothing new for this page, says you – to 1968. That year United became the first English League team to win the European Cup, known today as the Champions’ League.
The year before it had been won by Celtic. And this reminds me of a question asked on an RTE television quiz show a number of years back.
“Which was the first British club to win the European Cup?” Seeking clarification, the contestant asked, “British?” “No,” said the quizmistress,”Celtic.”
It’s 56 years almost to the day when United’s realised a dream that had been hatched by Matt Busby, over a decade earlier. The legendary manager had the ‘Babes’ in his care in the 1950s, and for many years after. They had won the league title in ‘56, and when they retained it 12 months later, conquering Europe was a justifiable aim.
It might have been achieved had the Munich Disaster not intervened. Claiming the lives of the youngest and best, the plane crash ripped the heart out of the team.
Busby survived, and over the following decade led his team to an FA Cup and two leagues, the first of them, in 1964/’65, giving United a return ticket to Europe. He oozed confidence, and this permeated through the ranks.
When United beat Benfica 5-1 in the quarter-final, George Best, then 19, announcing himself on the world stage, Busby was confident his team could take care of Real Madrid if they met the Euro specialists in the semi-final.
The draw didn’t work out that way – nor did United’s clash with Patrizan Belgrade in the semis. It ended in defeat, while, after coming through the other qualifier, Real went on to win the title, their sixth in the first decade of the competition.
Liverpool were England’s representative in Celtic’s year, but it was back to United the following season, and having sailed through the earlier rounds, they qualified to meet Real in the semi-finals. It’s what Busby wanted, but it wasn’t easy.
After winning 1-0 at home, United fell 1-3 behind in Madrid, and with time running out, looked destined to fill an also-ran slot once again. Enter David Sadler and Bill Foulkes – their goals made it a draw on the night and 4-3 on aggregate.
United renewed rivalry with Eusébio’s Benfica in the final played at Wembley. The final score of 4-1 belies how close a contest it was. At the end of 90 minutes it was one-apiece. Bobby Charlton had got the goal, and Alec Stepney made a wonder save from Eusébio.
The traffic was one-way in extra-time. Charlton got a second goal, George Best dribbled his way to get another and teenager Brian Kidd used his head to make it 4-1.
On a foul night, tears mixed with rain as Busby reserved his warmest embraces for fellow Munich survivors, Charlton and Foulkes.
(You’ll be glad to know, I’m sure, that peace has broken out In Bellurgan. But only because the game across the channel has gone into hibernation, at least at domestic level. There’s the European Championships coming up. If Southgate includes anyone from United in his England panel, I’d better be careful when I put pen to paper. For what it’s worth, I think Blighty will win, giving them a first major title since 1966.)