Manchester United win their first League title in 26 years

After the heartache of losing out to cross-penine rivals Leeds United in the Championship the season earlier Alex Ferguson knew that the League title was now a priority after going so long without being called the champions of England. However, after losing 2-1 to Sheffield United on the opening day of the Premier League season to a brace by Brian Deane and then well an truly thumped 3-0 by Scousers, Everton in their second game it looked as though Manchester United would go yet another season without winning the title in fact after going two months without a win (5 draws, 2 losses) between September 12th and November 21st United were languishing in 10th place in the League. However a chance phone call between Alex Ferguson and Leeds United boss Howard Wilkinson would turn The Reds season around because this was when the deal was done to bring Eric Cantona to Old Trafford. On the 26th of November the fiery Frenchman was comfirmes as a Manchester United player. Cantona made an immediate impact as he formed a potent partnership will fellow striker Mark Hughes as United finished the season with seventeen wins and six draws in their final twenty-five games, securing their first League title in 26 years when Midlanders Aston Villa lost 1-0 to Oldham Athletic on 2nd May 1993.

After the purchase of Eric Cantona from Leeds United, Alex Ferguson would now do deal to bring another player to Old Trafford who would prove to be even more influential than the enigmatic Frenchman, his name was Roy Keane, who would prove to be arguably the greatest signing of Alex Ferguson's career at Manchester United. Although the £3.75m fee paid for the player was scoffed at by many pundits and fans alike Fergie knew he could turn the young Irishman into one of the best Midfielders in the land.

The winning of the League title gave Alex Ferguson's men the belief that they could beat anybody they played against, certainly from England anyhow and it seemed to set them free from the shackles of not winning the trophy for such a long time too. The win also meant that Manchester United could continue the traditions of The Busby Babes and contest the European Cup once more. In the first round Ferguson's men were drawn against Hungarian champions Honved. In a tough encounter in Budapest two goals by new signing Roy Keane and one by Eric Cantona gave The Reds a 3-2 win. In the second leg centre back Steve Bruce's brace secured United a 5-3 aggregate win.

Despite their victory Manchester United struggled to adapt to the European game because they were hindered by UEFA's "Three foreigner" ruling which meant that United could not field their first choice team in any European match as players like Peter Schmeichel, Eric Cantona, Andrei Kanchelskis, Denis Irwin and Roy Keane could not all play at the same time. In fact United's Welsh and Scottish players Mark Hughes, Ryan Giggs and Brian McClair were affected by the rule too (Englsih clubs were allowed to field no more than two Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish born players). Although the ruling handicapped English clubs like United it did mean that Ferguson could blood some of his youngsters in the competition, giving them vital experience.

In Ferguson' second game in the European Cup Manchester United were drawn against Turkish outfit Galatasary the first leg finished 3-3 at Old Trafford, which meant United would have to win in Istanbul or secure a draw higher than 3-3 to progress to the next round. Unfortunately the bad tempered match finished 0-0. These days the game is remembered for the "Welcome to Hell" banners unveiled by the Galatasary fans, Eric Cantona's dismissal after the final whistle and United players allegedly being attacked by Turkish police.

Although they didn't fair too well in the European Cup Alex Ferguson's Manchester United side began to strengthen their grip on the domestic scene. The 1993-94 season saw The Reds win the F.A. Cup and League double, beating Chelsea 4-0 and pipping Blackburn Rovers respectively to do so. In fact they almost won a domestic treble that season but were beaten 3-1 by Aston Villa in the final of the League Cup.

The 1994-95 season would see Alex Ferguson face heartache in Europe once again as Manchester United were drawn in a difficult group consisting of Barcelona, Gothenburg and Galatasary in the new look UEFA Champions League Cup. After The Reds defence was torn to ribbons by the superb Romario and Hristo Stoitchkov in a 4-0 defeat United were left with an uphill struggle to reach the knock-out stages and after a 3-1 defeat in thier penultimate group by Gothenburg they needed to beat Galatasary in their final game and hope that the Swedish champions defeated Barcelona at the Nou Camp in order to progress. When the last games came around Manchester United stuck to their end of the bargain by beating Galatasary 4-0, but brave Gothenburg were unable to do Alex Ferguson a favour as they fought out a 1-1 draw in Spain.

That season was pretty much one to forget for Manchester United fans as The Red Devils lost the title to Blackburn Rovers on the final day of 1994-95 campaign - by just one point - and were defeated by a Paul Rideout goal in the F.A. Cup final against Everton. The season also saw talisman Eric Cantonabanned for nine months for his efforts in trying to remake the film "Enter The Dragon" at Selhurst Park, where he Kung-Fu kicked a Crystal Palace fan after being dismissed by referee Alan Wilkie

"You can't win anything with kids"
After failiure in Europe and on the domestic scene Alex Ferguson showed his ruthless streak by selling midfiled general Paul Ince to Inter Milan, Andrei Kanchelskis to Everton and Mark Hughes to Chelsea. At the time people were questioning Alex Ferguson's judgement - after his mini-clearout - but when the 1995-96 season started it was clear that he was making room for his young starlets namely Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Nicky Butt, Phil Neville and David Beckham. However, after Manchester United were defeated 3-1 by Aston Villa on the opening day of the season pundits and fans thought that Fergie had got it wrong, and it is at this point that Alan Hansen uttered the famous phrase "you can't win anything with kids" which suggested that Manchester United would end this season and perhaps the next couple of seasons without any silverware if Ferguson stuck by his youthful team.

After their first day defeat United's form began to improve and when Eric Cantona returned from his lengthy ban Manchester United began to fire on all cylinders. So impressive was the returning Frenchman that his goalscoring antics secured United 18 points as he netted the winner after winner during the run in. United won the League title again that season and Alex Ferguson had Cantona to thank in the F.A. Cup final, as his solitary goal was enough to defeat Liverpool and secure an unprecedented "double, double"for Manchester United.

Manchester United's European form improves
Alex Ferguson's quest to win the UEFA Champions League could commence again in 1996-97 after Manchester United's Premier League title win. The draw for the group stages was pretty kind to them as they faced home and away games against holders Juventus, Turkish side Fanerbahcen and Rapid Viena. Although United lost three of their group games (beaten home and away against Juventus and home to Fenberbahce) they progressed to the quarter-final stages of the competition with a 2-0 victory against Rapid Vienna in Austria.

In the next round United faced the brilliant FC Porto. The Portuguese champions arrived at Old Trafford with a formidible reputation and many commentators expected United to be taught a footballing lesson after the Iberians had won their group - containing AC Milan, Gothenburg and Rosenburg - at a canter with sixteen points from a possible eighteen. United started the first leg at a super fast tempo and wouldn't let Porto settle into their rhythm. Alex Ferguson's men were rewarded for their fine start when David May scrambled in a 22nd minute corner and United were flying as Eric Cantona pounced to smash the ball passed Portuguese goalkeeper Vitor Baia 12 minutes later. At half-time and what seemed like against all odds United led 2-0. The second half started like the first one ended and Ryan Giggs added to United's lead in the 61st minute and it was then left for striker Andy Cole to complete the 4-0 rout as he cooly slotted the ball under goalkeeper Vitor Baia after an Eric Cantona through ball.Manchester United completed the formality of booking their place in the UEFA Champions League semi-final against German side Borussia Dortmund with a goaless draw in Portugal.

Although Alex Ferguson's Manchester United side had improved in the UEFA Champions League, thanks in part to the scrapping of the "three foreigner" ruling in 1995, they would find the obstacle of Borussia Dortmund to big a hurdle to overcome. The German's were packed full of word class players such as Matthias Sammer, Paulo Sousa, Karl-Heinz Riedler, Stefan Reuter, Andreas Moller and Jurgen Kohler. In the first leg United were outplayed and did well to escape with a 1-0 defeat. However the second leg was a different affiar. Despite the game finishing 1-0 to the Germans Manchester United squandered chance after chance in the game as the Reds peppered Dortmund's goal for most of the second half, but just couldn't find the breakthrough goal.

Despite defeat in the world's biggest club competition Manchester United did go on the lift the Premier League title that season when they pipped Newcastle United for the second time in two years.

Manchester United throw away the chance to win their third consecutive League title
The 1997-98 season saw Alex Ferguson and his team comfirm their status of one of Europe's best sides when they defeated the all conquering Juventus 3-2 at Old Trafford in an empatic performance. United finshed top of their group containing the aforementioned Juventus, Feyenoord and Kosice. Although Manchester United were defeated in the quarter-final stage by AS Monaco, the players seemed to be getting to grips with the competiton as the experience gained game by game grew.

On the domestic scene Manchester United were knocked out of the F.A. Cup by lowly Barnsley after their fourth round replay finished 3-2 to the Yorkshiremen and to add insult to injury the Premier League title was lost to Arsenal as the Londoners overhauled United's seemingless unassailable 11 point lead.

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