I can't believe it. I can't believe it. Football, bloody hell! (Sir Alex Ferguson).

The quote was given by Sir Alex in a post match interview after the 26th May 1999 Champions League final in which United defeated Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou to complete the historic treble (Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League). Since that evening the quote has been used as a title for podcasts, radio and TV programmes and memes as well as being the title of Ferguson’s biography.

Though the art features United it is less about them as a team and Ferguson as a manager than it is about the quote being a succinct expression of the games ability to produce moments of the highest drama where the margins between success and failure are slight but the consequences enormous. As the 98-99 season drew to a close United illustrated that perfectly culminating in the most remarkable final three minutes of a Champions League final ever.

The first of a series of key games happened on 13th April . it was the FA cup semi final replay against Arsenal at Villla Park. The first match between the countries then two best teams had ended in a draw. The replay was deadlocked at 1-1 when in the 75th minute the United captain Roy Keane was sent off for a second yellow card. With minutes of injury time left Arsenal were awarded a penalty. Dennis Bergkamp was the Gunners penalty taker, he’d converted every kick he’d taken that season. In those days there was less pre-match analysis so Schmichael hadn’t had the opportunity to study where Bergkamp placed his kicks. He guessed low left and made the save. United were still only level though and playing 10 against 11 when In the second half of extra time Ryan Giggs won the match for them. He collected the ball at the halfway line beat four Arsenal players and fired a high angled shot into the roof of the net. It was voted the Greatest Goal in FA cup History.

That result put United in the FA Cup Final but they still had 10 games to play, a two legged CL semi versus Juventus, the CL final if they progressed, the FA cup final and 6 Premier League games. They couldn’t afford a single slip if they were going to achieve the treble.

Their Premier League run in was not an easy one and included games against inveterate enemies Liverpool and Leeds United. They won 4 and drew 3 of the 7 games pipping Arsenal to the title by one point.

The FA cup final was a somewhat more straightforward affair winning comfortably 2-0 versus Newcastle United.

The Champions League however was a different matter. In the home leg of the semi United had only achieved a 1-1 home draw versus Juve and that through an injury time Giggs goal. They then faced the daunting task of having to win at the Stadio Delle Alpi . United had never won on an Italian pitch. To make it even more difficult Filippo Inzaghi scored twice in the first 11 minutes of the second leg to give Juve a 3–1 aggregate lead. What followed was hailed as one of the best away leg european performances by a British team ever as captain Roy Keane drove The Reds on scoring before being yellow carded so preventing him from playing the final. Yorke added a second to level the match just before the break and in the second half, Cole put United ahead for the first time in the match and the tie as Yorke was brought down by the Juve keeper for a clear penalty but the referee playing advantage allowing Cole to tap in from an acute angle. United then held on for their first victory in Italy and booked their place in the Camp Nou for the final, against group opponents Bayern Munich. Scholes was also yellow carded in the match so United were in the final without two of their best midfield players (Keane and Scholes).

Ferguson reorganised the team but it looked like a match too far for the Premiere League title holders and FA Cup winners as Bayern overran United’s weakened midfield with Basler scoring after 6 minutes and Scholl and Jancker hitting the post and crossbar respectively. United skipper for the game Peter Schmeichel played heroically making numerous saves.
Ferguson substituted in Solskjær and Sheringham for Yorke and Cole but United were still struggling to create chances and the game headed for the final minutes. UEFA staff brought the CL trophy pitch side decked out in Bayern ribbons. Even the officials had decided it was Bayern’s evening.

What happened next was one of the most remarkable CL finales of all time as in the final three minutes of injury time a Beckham corner was only partially cleared by the Bayern defence and hit back in (but off target) by Giggs only to be diverted into the net by Sheringham. It was 1-1 with around a minute of injury time left.

With the momentum of the game shifting United attacked again and won another corner which Beckham took and Sheringham headed on to Solskjær who in turn toe-poked it into the roof of the net to complete the most remarkable comeback in CL history and demonstrate that even at the highest levels the outcomes can be unmatched drama.