1991-1992, Manchester United season

By 1991-1992, it had been twenty-five years since Manchester United last won the league championship. They very nearly won it in 1991-1992, but their nerve deserted them right at the end.

At the close of the previous season, winger Andrei Kanchelskis had been signed from Shakhtyor Donetsk and then, over the summer, goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel arrived from Brondby and defender Paul Parker from Queen’s Park Rangers. The team was significantly strengthened by each of these arrivals and, at the start of the season, was seen as genuine championship contenders. With Brian Kidd as Alex Ferguson’s new assistant, the season began well. The first twelve league games brought eight wins and four draws and, by Boxing Day, the team headed the table. But the last twelve league games only brought three wins. Fixture congestion meant five games had to be played in eleven days and, as the manager tinkered with the team, their nearest rivals Leeds United kept winning. Gallingly, it was defeat at Liverpool that finally gave the championship to Leeds United and their captain Gordon Strachan. It was recompense for Leeds after Manchester United had knocked them out of both cup competitions earlier in the season. Despite ending the season as runners-up, there were many good individual performances. Two of these were recognised when Gary Pallister was voted PFA Players’ Player of the Year and Ryan Giggs PFA Young Player of the Year.

In 1991-1992 the club won the League Cup for the first time. In the final at Wembley, they defeated Nottingham Forest 1-0 with a goal by Brian McClair. Another 1-0 victory won them the European Super Cup, when Red Star Belgrade were beaten at Old Trafford in November. There was no repeat success in the European Cup Winners Cup, with Manchester United going out in the second round. In the FA Cup Southampton knocked them out in the fourth round.

The other trophy won in 1991-1992 was the FA Youth Cup. Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Gary Neville and Nicky Butt all appeared for Manchester United in the competition. As one championship-winning side was almost complete, the next was being prepared.