Matt Wills has had a great season bringing the class of 93/94 back together, but how will the 1997/98 season finish up? You can catch up with Part 6 here

Cantona and his band of merry men from the 93/94 season are on their quest to claim the domestic treble in 97/98. Two trophies are in the cabinet, can they add the third?

Welcome back to Part 7 and thank you for following me on this weird and wonderful journey with the gang of 94 in 98. United picked up the League Cup at the end of March and added the Premier League title with 4 games to spare in Part 6. They also came agonizingly close to making it to final of the Champions League but still have the FA Cup Final against Tottenham to look forward to, the final Premier League games and we’ll follow our heroes through France 98, lets get to it!

With the title in the bag, I can relax a little ahead of the FA Cup Final showdown with Tottenham. This is no bad thing, as our European exploits schedule 4 league games in the space of 7 days, so again it’s a chance for a run out for the likes of Thornley, Ferguson, McKee etc… who promptly lose 1-2 to Bolton and 0-2 to Wimbledon 2 days later. I wrap Robson up in cotton wool with the rest of the Classic 11 in preparation for the final. The 3 pts aren’t enough to save Bolton from relegation, but are useful to Wimbledon who stay up.

For the final league game of the season, I play a strong side against Arsenal and finish on a high with a 2-1 win and gives us a 14 point gap over our closest rivals. I had expected more of a challenge from Arsenal, but once we hit top spot just before Christmas, we never looked back, even with all the cup exploits, which shows the strength of the old timers!

Mark Hughes topped the Premier League scoring charts with a very decent 30 goals for a 34 year old and Eric came joint second with Ian Wright on 25 despite missing a month with injury. He also tops the average ratings charts. Roy Keane couldn’t top the worst discipline though… hard times in Newcastle were Andreas Andersson tops the table with Klinsmann not far behind. I hope not too many of those yellows were for diving Jurgen…

Anyway, off to Wembley for the final piece of the puzzle. Our opponents are Spurs who finished 7th in the league and only the 3rd round of the League Cup. Spurs did some decent transfer business over the course of the season, but sending Sol to Italy didn’t help them.

Spurs line up in a standard 4-4-2 with Les and Jurgen upfront and Ginola in the middle with Eion Jess, interesting.

There’s no surprises in my line up, the team picks itself by now, everyone knows their place and their job by now. On the bench I go for some loyalty with the old timers, with Sealey, Blackmore, Robson and McClair with a rejuvenated Lee Sharpe. I toy with starting Robson, but decide I’d prefer him to come on late, play a part and finish the match.

Utd control the first half and break the deadlock on 19 minutes when Giggs scores a long range effort past the flailing Ian Walker. Hughes adds a second before half time, rounding Walker after being set free by Eric to slot in. 2-0 at half time and we’ve one hand on the treble.

Spurs make a bright start to the second half and grow into the game, so I bring Sharpe on for Paul Parker and switch Irwin to right back, but Eric breaks away and puts us 3-nil up, it’s all but over.

With that, Bryan gets warmed up and come son for man of the match Paul Ince. Even though we’re 3-0 up, Bryan looks serious and determined, ever the professional. As the second half draws on, I send on Brian McClair for Mark Hughes. Spurs don’t give up and Klinsmann scores a consolation on 85 minutes, but it’s not the start of an epic comeback, we’ve done it, treble champions!

The players celebrate on the pitch, Robson drops to his knees, Schmeichel shouts at Pallister and Bruce and Paul Ince pulls out a cigar, astounding. Bruce and Keane push Robson up the Wembley stairs and he holds aloft the FA Cup, a treble champion at the age of 41, fairytale stuff!

With the domestic season over, attention turns to the European finals. First up, it’s Arsenal Vs Inter Milan in the Eufa Cup Final. A 3rd minute Ze Elias goal is cancelled out when Taribo West nets in his own goal on 62 minutes. No winner can be found in extra-time so Arsenal prevail on penalties 6-5, Phil Neville netting before Paganin misses and Petit clinches it for Arsenal.

In the Cup Winners Cup Final, Vicenza win 2-0 against Nice, who eliminated Chelsea 6-2 on aggregate in the quarter finals.

Then to the big one, the Champions League Final. Our conquerors Parma face up against Spanish league champions Barcelona. The final is an epic, 2-2 after normal time and 3-3 after extra time. Crespo levelling 3 times after goals from De la Pena, Effenberg and Pizzi had put Barca ahead. Buffon gets man of the match but Cannavaro and Asprilla fluff their lines and Barcelona are kings of Europe.

The dust settles and it’s time to reflect on the season and what a season, we set out on Eric’s quest with a lot of doubt, these players were 4 years older at the start of the campaign and some of them look 40 years older now, but they did it, aided here and there by not just the likes of Beckham and Scholes but also by players like Sealey, McClair and Dublin.

It’s time to give my over view of the players performance over the season.

GK – Peter Schmeichel – The Great Dane averaged just under 7 during the season in the league ad was more at ease in Europe. Some big saves in big games made the difference though and he kept Pallister and Bruce in check.

RB – Paul Parker – He started the season, but then lost his place to Leee Sharpe, but came back into the squad towards the run in and even managed 2 assists.

LB – Denis Irwin – Mr Dependable whether at left back or right back never let me down and contributed a couple of useful goals.

CB – Steve Bruce – the 37 year old Captain really surprised me, 9 assists and 4 MOTM tell you everything. He played 49 games with a Stamina rating of 1.

CB – Gary Pallister – Big Pally was my most effective defender and even played his way back into the England Squad.

MC – Roy Keane – 14 yellows, but no reds, he provided the cover needed for Ince’s marauding runs

MC – Paul Ince – The Guv’nor proved his ability with 7 goals and 8 assists and kept the yellows to a minimum. Played 62 minutes of the FA Cup final and was awarded MOTM.

ML – Ryan Giggs – 11 goals, 14 assists says it all really. Thornley had no chance.

MR – Andrei Kanchelskis – The Siberian Express slotted back into the right wing perfectly, even with a hip injury early on his domestic form sparkled, less so in Europe.

FC – Mark Hughes – What else can you say about the 34 year old Welshman when he scores 30 goals but fantastic?

FC – Eric Cantona – The King – he took a while to find his form and then missed a month with injury, but he weighed in with 25 goals and 8 for France. Could have done with more from him in Europe though.

Of the rest, Leee Sharpe was awesome as a wingback and Dublin and McClair came up with the goods when needed. Then you have Bryan Robson, a stalwart, shoring up and seeing out games from the bench, scored his 100th United goal and lifted the treble, perfect.

So, Eric’s band of men did it and it’s been a joy to play through. Not signing or selling anyone has been interesting, really helps to play to the strengths of the squad players, but when squad players are Butt, Beckham and Scholes, it’s not hard work.

But what of the players Eric made leave?

Well, Phil Neville claimed a runner up medal in the UEFA Cup and finished second to Juventus in Serie A. For the rest though, it was a story of middling returns at middling clubs domestically and abroad. Culkin and Pilkington stayed on free transfers, so I’m pleased we had Sealey and Walsh.

Attention turns to France 98 and which United players will be staring?

Well, Eric’s form for United and France secures his place, and England take 7 of our players. Big Peter is a surety for Denmark and McClair’s 4 goal trick gets him a space on the Euro-Tunnel for Scotland.

Eric plays in the first two group games, 3-0 wins against USA and Scotland but doesn’t score and is an unused sub in the final group game against Australia, a 1-0 win.

McClair doesn’t play a single minute for Scotland as they finish 3rd in their group and are eliminated. A shame Alex wasn’t given the Scotland job really.

Denmark make their way out of a group containing Mexico, Tunisia and Cameroon to be rewarded with a second round clash with Brazil which is settled by a Mario Jardel goal, hard lines Peter.

And what of England? Well they make hard work of it. A 1-1 draw with Germany features Neville, Sharpe, Pallister, Beckham and Ince, with Scholes on the bench. Sheringham cancelling out Stefan Reuter. A late Sheringham goal sees off South Korea and drab 1-1 draw with Norway sees them through in 2nd place to face France in the second round. Shearer and Solskjaer with the goals.

France are dispatched 1-0 thanks to an Alan Shearer goal in the first half. Eric is on the bench but sees no action, his World Cup dream is over. Pallister gets man of the match and the reward is Danish conquerors Brazil in the Quarter Finals. Rivaldo settles the tie on 13 minutes and England whimper out mustering only 2 shots on target. Brazil make their way to the final but lose 2-0 to Germany. Germany getting future/past revenge for 2002.

And that finishes our season. If I’d had the foresight to load the French league, I might have been tempted to add myself in as France manager and try to lead Eric to glory, but it was not to be. I could have been England manager I suppose and called up Bruce, Robson and Sealey….

As the season draws to a close and the familiar 15th July date rolls around, a succession of players come to see me in my office.

First up is Paul Parker ‘I’ve had a wonderful season boss, but I’m afraid my legs just aren’t up to it anymore, plus one more misplaced pass and I think Pete might strangle me. All the best, but that’s me done with playing’ – Thanks Paul, I’m sure I’ll cope.

Next up is Bryan Robson, one I had been dreading. ‘Boss, I just want to thank you for letting me get a treble under my belt, it was amazing to come back, score my 100th goal and lift some more trophies for Utd, but to be honest, it’s getting too much for me and what with managing Middlesbrough, I just don’t see how I could do both now we’re promoted’ I tell him I understand, shake his hand burst into tears as soon as he closes the door.

Next to knock on my door is Mike Phelan. We say nothing as I exchange a picture of a Spit Fire for his locker key.

Another knock on the door and it’s Les Sealey ‘Alright gaffer? Thanks for playing me in the League Cup Final, but I’m not going to get in front of Peter am I so I’m calling it a day’ I smile, shrug my shoulders, give him a big hug and pat him on the back as he leaves, what a guy.

I start to do a head count when I get another knock on the door. Sacre Bleu, it’s Eric.
‘Boss, this season was c’est manifique’. It really was I agree uneasily, not sure where this is going. I glance out of the window and see Paul, Bryan and Les letting the air out of the tyres of Mike Phelan’s Montego. ‘Have you enjoyed yourself Eric?’ I ask as I draw my gaze back to him.

‘Oui, oui’ he shrugs his shoulders. I notice the collar of his shirt is turned down. I have a deep sense of foreboding in the pit of my stomach.

‘The season was amazing, but look, we need to talk…..’

The end?

Thanks for following me on this blog save. It’s been a lot of fun and I’ve really enjoyed guiding this team through the treble season and rewriting history. Keep an eye out to see what Eric wants to talk about in the near future, thanks, Matt.

Thanks to Matt for a very entertaining season, keep an eye out for his return in the coming weeks. In the meantime, you can follow Matt on Twitter @Matt_C_Wills