1997-1998, Manchester United season

The 1997-1998 season started with a win over Chelsea in the Charity Shield (on penalties). It would prove to be the season’s only trophy.

Following the retirement of Eric Cantona, Roy Keane became club captain. Keane shared his manager’s obsessive determination to win and was to become an inspirational leader. Teddy Sheringham arrived and formed a productive partnership with Andy Cole. On the field they scored thirty-nine goals between them - while off it, they refused to speak to each other! Even without Cantona, the team was still capable of scoring. In the autumn they scored seven goals against Barnsley one week and six against Sheffield Wednesday the next. In an FA Cup third round game at Chelsea in January, they scored five goals before Chelsea got any. More games were won and more points earned than in the previous season, but this time it wasn’t sufficient. Despite leading the Premiership for most of the season, Manchester United were eventually overtaken by Arsenal, who then also won the FA Cup. Manchester United’s cause wasn’t helped by a series of injuries, including a lengthy one to Roy Keane.

It was another frustrating season in the Champions League. After a more encouraging group phase, Manchester United were knocked-out in the quarter-finals by Monaco. Both the manager and the team knew the importance of European success at Old Trafford and another year of failure was disappointing. Without much success in the domestic cup competitions either, the 1997-1998 season was not one to remember.