UNITED Ferguson’s 1999 Treble gamble is a warning to Jose
IT was the day Sir Alex Ferguson almost blew the 1999 Treble – and provides a reminder of just how difficult a job Jose Mourinho has at United juggling his side during the climax to the season.
Reds boss Mourinho made six changes to his line-up that faced St Etienne in France when United won the EFL Cup final against Southampton.
He then left out four of his Wembley heroes last Saturday against Bournemouth, knowing a long trip to Rostov was ahead in the Europa League.
It partly back-fired, with United dropping two vital points in the battle for the top four. Mourinho explained his selection before taking on Eddie Howe’s side at Old Trafford.
“I spoke with the players after the final. I thought it was the reality of playing three competitions, lots of matches, playing against fresh opponents with time to rest and prepare,” he said.
“Now, more than ever, we need the squad so it is time for rotation, time for players who are not playing so much to be ready to step up and give us that possibility.
“It is an opportunity for us to rotate some players and be fresh for Rostov.
“We felt against Southampton the difference of a fresh team and a team with lots of matches. We are going to feel that every match now.”
Most notably, Zlatan Ibrahimovic kept his place following his two-goal cup-winning performance but looked like his well-used tank this season was running on empty against Bournemouth. Is it time for the 26-goal Swede to be rested in Rostov - even if he will miss United’s next three domestic games because of his FA ban?
It is a conundrum any manager going for a glut of trophies at the end of a season is familiar with.
It was a dilemma – and an ultimate gamble – that almost cost Fergie the ‘99 Treble. Eighteen years ago, United played Chelsea in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup at Old Trafford.
The fixture will be repeated on Monday night at Stamford Bridge.
Back in ‘99, Ferguson took a risk and put the two most dangerous strikers in England and Europe Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole on the bench for the lasteight clash as the game was sandwiched between a Champions League match with Inter Milan and a Premier League trip to Newcastle.
Teddy Sheringham was also on the bench, meaning only Ole Gunnar Solskjaer of United’s Big Four strike force started against Chelsea.
The Reds dominated – Chelsea keeper Ed de Goey was man of the match which said it all. But United couldn’t break down a side who had been reduced to 10 men before halftime when Roberto Di Matteo was sent off. In the end, Ferguson had to forget about keeping his players fresh and threw on Yorke and Cole but for only eight minutes. Sheringham was also rolled into the front line.
But Chelsea held out for a 0-0 draw and the Treble was teetering on the brink of collapse.
For the replay, three days before the visit to Tyneside, Fergie went for broke and Cole and Yorke were back in tandem with the latter scoring twice to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Fergie got away with it and Mourinho will be hoping he can have the same combination of good judgement and good fortune.