“Aaaaaaand Solskjaer has won it!”. These few words bring back fond memories — or in my case goosebumps based on replays — for any Manchester United supporter. The 98/99 final in Barcelona was perhaps the pinnacle of our club’s achievements: securing the Treble of the Premier League, FA Cup and the Champions League, a feat that has not yet been repeated nor had it ever been achieved.
The final itself was a messy, chaotic affair with hardly any cohesion on the part of our attack. Nonetheless, that final 20 years ago epitomized the “we will always bounce back” attitude that so beautifully and remarkably represents our football club. When facing bankruptcy all the way back in the early 20th century, our club was revamped and revitalized. When our famous “Busby Babes” — tipped by many to become the kings of English football at the time — were tragically struck down on that fateful day in Munich, we responded by winning the European Cup exactly ten years later, with the manager, Matt Busby, who suffered severe injuries in that accident guiding the team comprising Bobby Charlton, a survivor of the crash, and other heroes to a famous victory against Benfica in the final. When the club was struggling to achieve the heights of the 60s, Sir Alex was appointed and he boldly declared that his mission was to “Knock Liverpool off their perch”, a remark which drew raucous laughter at the time, yet 25 years on we were the ones laughing. We are no strangers to despair, yet we are also accustomed to redemption.
Fast forward to 2019, and it finally feels like the United of old has come back in some tangible sense. We are finally playing some attractive football. We have also become resilient, winning games where we have been put under the cosh for a majority of the ninety. Tantalizingly, it has been a long time coming; six years of agonizingly boring, plain and methodical football has taken its toll on me. The fervor that I had six years back, of trying to watch each and every United game, had been snuffed out by boredom. Amazingly, this negativity has been uprooted with such swiftness that it has taken me and many others by surprise.
The game that cemented this renewed sense of optimism and hope was the recent 3-1 win over PSG. We didn’t play all that well — we barely had 30 percent possession and more than once were lucky to come out the back without conceding. Yet in a way that stirred memories of the past, we scored in the 94th minute of injury time to come out on top. We beat the odds; I myself had posted on facebook after the draw for the tie was announced that we had no chance. Heck, I had even written United off before the kick-off, that despite our scintillating form in recent times, PSG was a mountain too high to climb. It was exhilarating to be proven wrong.
The recent run of form has also demonstrated how positive the atmosphere around Old Trafford currently is. With Jose at the helm, it felt like every week was filled with drama, tension, and refusal to perform well. Now however is a complete contrast. The players are seen smiling, laughing and their performances on the pitch have been marvelous. Hopefully, Ole gets the job long term!
Finally, it’s important to realize that the progress of these past few months can and will unravel really quickly unless we are able to maintain our standards of play and the positive atmosphere surrounding our club. However, for the first time in many years, I truly feel optimistic about my team’s chances and fortunes in the near future. Remarkably, I find myself looking forward to watching the next United game, a thought inconceivable just a few months back. How fitting that the man responsible for this dramatic upturn in our fortunes is none other than that Norweigan maestro who delivered us our treble 20 years back.
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