Bayern, eh? Bloody hell!

By David McDonnell in Mirror Football Blog

Published 22:50 19/03/10

• 

David McDonnell

Sir Alex Ferguson will relive his finest hour after Manchester United were drawn against Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.

The two clubs have been thrown together in a repeat of the historic 1999 final when Fergie’s men sealed a stunning win with two late goals in the Nou Camp.

Relive Manchester United's victory over Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final with classic pictures and Daily Mirror match reports from the time

Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskajer’s injury-time goals left Bayern’s shattered players in tears, and forced UEFA officials into a hasty change of ribbons, having already tied Bayern’s colours to the cup.

Ferguson, who had been forced by suspension to field a team without two of his key midfield players – skipper Roy Keane and Paul Scholes – infamously responded to the dramatic ­turnaround in a post-match TV interview by saying: “Football, eh? Bloody hell!”

It completed an unprecedented Treble for United that season and Fergie is relishing another meeting with the German giants.

“The history of playing Bayern in past European ties tells you it’s going to be a very difficult tie for us,” said Fergie.

“It’ll be a fantastic atmosphere in both games. They have a great stadium and a good pitch and we’re up against a good, ­experienced team.

“Hopefully we’ll have everyone we need for the game and, if we do, then we have got a good chance.”

United have managed just one win in seven meetings with Bayern, with four draws and two defeats for Fergie’s men, although that one triumph yielded the European glory.

Dwight Yorke, a member of the team that beat Bayern in such dramatic circumstances, admitted: “That was my greatest moment.”

He predicted few goals over the two-leg encounter this time around and said: “It’s going to be a tough game.

“We know that, even though United may be the slight ­favourites. But you know against a German team that it’s never going to be easy. Its’ going to be a difficult game.

“There haven’t been too many goals conceded between the two teams over the years and I think it will be a similar outcome when these two meet.

“The fact that United will be playing at home in the second leg will certainly put them as strong favourites to go through.”

United travel to Bayern for the first leg on March 30, before hosting the 21-time German champions at Old Trafford in the return game on April 7.

Yesterday’s draw could not have gone better for United, who avoided favourites Barcelona, Inter Milan and Arsenal, as well as a gruelling trip to the Russian capital against CSKA Moscow.

And if United can successfully negotiate the two-leg tie with Bayern, then Lyon or Bordeaux – managed by former United defender Laurent Blanc – await them in the semi-finals.

United chief executive David Gill admits the draw has given Fergie’s men the best possible chance of reaching a third straight final in Madrid on Saturday, May 22.

“We’re playing well and Sir Alex and the players know what to do in the latter stages of this competition,” said Gill.

“We’ve got to be confident we can progress.

“The Bayern tie is very difficult but if we negotiate that ­successfully we’ve got a French team in the semis. So it’s looking good.

“Without doubt [it looks like a good route to the final]. But this is the best competition in club football so there should be eight great teams in the quarter-finals.

“We can’t get carried away but one of Sir Alex’s strengths is not to do that.

“We’ve got to concentrate on that first game, get them back to Old Trafford with an away goal and hopefully we’ll progress.”

United face a tough run of fixtures over the next few weeks, including games against ­Liverpool, Bolton, Chelsea, Tottenham and the two European ties with Bayern.

But Gill said Ferguson and his players would relish such a demanding end to their campaign.

“This is what we want at the end of a season,” said Gill.

“We’ve got Liverpool this weekend, Bolton away next Saturday, then Bayern away, Chelsea at home and Bayern at home, so it’s a fantastic fixture list.

“The very fact we’re at the latter stages of two great competitions and we’ve got every chance of doing very well is what this club, the players and manager are all about.”

Bayern have been unconvincing in Europe this season.

Home ties against Bordeaux, Juventus and Maccabi Haifa produced just one win and one goal in the group stage.

The high point for Louis van Gaal’s side was an emphatic 4-1 win at Juve, but the Bayern camp are aware that United are the firm favourites to progress.

At the moment United are better than us,” said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

“But that’s the challenge – to use the small chance we have to reach the semis.

“We must not concede at home – 1-0 would be good.

“In Manchester United we face a club with a similar approach to Barcelona, but English football suits us better.”

Fancy winning £3,000 for FREE this month? Play Mirror Football Streak for your chance to win cash prizes! Start predicting now!