Treble 20: The story of August 1998

The story of 1998/99 has to begin with the denouement of 1997/98. That season, Alex Ferguson's powerful United side had built a lead over Arsenal that had looked sure to retain the Premier League crown and make it three titles in a row and five out of six since the English top flight was rebranded.

But a combination of an extraordinary 10-match winning streak by the Gunners – under manager Arsene Wenger, in his first full season in charge – and a series of frustrating results costing points meant that United's choke-hold on the division was broken by the North Londoners, who claimed the title by a single point on the final day.

Throw in an FA Cup win for Wenger to complete a Double, and a disappointing exit to Monaco in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, and United's misery was absolute. Nose bloodied and heckles up, Ferguson vowed to return and win back the title the following season.

By the time that season came around, the boss had made a significant addition to his playing squad in the hulking form of Dutch centre-back Jaap Stam, arrived from PSV Eindhoven for a hefty fee. Swedish winger Jesper Blomqvist had also been bought, while elder statesmen Brian McLair and Gary Pallister had left Old Trafford after years of sterling service.

Stam’s Reds debut came in the Charity Shield against Arsenal a week before the season proper. If Ferguson had hoped to land a first blow in the anticipated scrap with the Gunners to come – albeit in something of a phoney war, being notionally a friendly game – then he was left smarting. In what appeared an ominous sign, Wenger’s men scored three without reply to lift the Shield.

Before the real business of the Premier League kicked off, though, United had part one of a two-legged Champions League qualifier to negotiate, against LKS Lodz. Goals from Ryan Giggs and Andy Cole ensured that the Polish side were put away without too much difficulty at Old Trafford, with attention then shifting to the Premier League opener against Leicester City three days later.

Going a goal down after seven minutes – at home – was most certainly not how Ferguson envisaged his title assault beginning. And when Tony Cottee added to Emile Heskey’s opener with just 15 minutes remaining, three points appeared to have been ceded on day one.

But – in a portent of what was to become a major theme in United’s campaign – the Reds fought back with a Teddy Sheringham goal and, playing to the death, equalised through a David Beckham free-kick in the last minute. Two points dropped, perhaps – but the first evidence of a never-say-die attitude displayed.

The following fixture, at West Ham, will be remembered for another significant debut. Dwight Yorke, captured from Aston Villa a couple of days earlier, started at Upton Park, signalling the birth of what would become a celebrated strike pairing with Andy Cole. On this occasion, though, neither of the two – or anyone else – could break the deadlock and the match finished 0-0.

Though LKS Lodz were duly navigated to ensure Champions League group stage participation, Ferguson was not without food for thought over his side’s start to the 1998/99 campaign. Points already dropped and goals not exactly flowing. Perhaps an international break would provide his side with a chance to hit the restart button in September…

PLAYER IN FOCUS: David Beckham

In the face of adversity, Becks stood up to be counted – particularly with the dramatic late free-kick that rescued a draw against Leicester. He had been vilified for his red card on England duty at the World Cup that summer and became the target of opposing fans’ jeers, being chronically booed at West Ham in particular. But our strong-minded no.7 wasn’t fazed.

TREBLE MOMENTUM MOMENT:

We’ve mentioned the debuts of Jaap Stam and Dwight Yorke, key additions to the United squad with storylines of their own to come. But arguably even more significant was the return to competitive action of a talisman who had been missing with injury for some 11 months. Roy Keane’s inclusion in the line-up for the Charity Shield against Arsenal was an enormous boost for the Reds – and the first of fully 55 matches the inestimable Irishman would play that term.

THE MONTH'S STATS

RESULTS
9 Aug 1998: United 0-3 Arsenal
(Charity Shield, Wembley)

12 Aug 1998: United 2-0 LKS Lodz
(Champions League second qualifying round first leg)

15 Aug 1998: United 2-2 Leicester City
(Premier League)

22 Aug 1998: West Ham 0-0 United
(Premier League)

26 Aug 1998: LKS Lodz 0-0 United
(Champions League second qualifying round second leg)

LEAGUE POSITION (as of 31 August 1998)

MOST APPEARANCES

5 - Schmeichel, Irwin, Johnsen, Keane, Butt, Beckham, Giggs

MOST GOALS

1 - Giggs, Cole, Sheringham, Beckham

This article first appeared in Inside United, the club's official monthly magazine, which is marking the 20th anniversary of the Treble all season.