1995-96 The Double Double
After the sale of Hughes, Kanchelskis and Ince. Alex Ferguson introduces Beckham, Scholes, the Neville Brothers Phil and Gary and Butt to the first tram from the reserves. Alan Hansen, the BBC commentator mentioned that United will NOT win anything with kids this season. Eric Cantona, banned for the Kung Fu kick on the Palace fan, will not be able to play till 1st October.
United lost the first game of the season 3-0 to Aston Villa and did not have a good run in the next few matches where the opposition made them fight for every ball to grind out a victory. It was till the return of Cantona saw United made any real challenge. The league leaders were Newcastle, with a massive 12 points gap ahead of United.
December did to begin well as United draw against Sheffield Wed and Chelsea, defeat at Liverpool and Leeds. It was Dec 27, the visit of Newcastle proved to be the turning point. A 2-0 win were the first points dropped by Newcastle for a long period of time.
Newcastle, with the arrival of Tino Asprilla from Parma thought that they have boosted their strikeforce. But this led to their downfall. They begin to lose vital points due to their predictable style, a 1-0 home defeat to United and 4-3 defeat at Liverpool proved to be their undoing.
United meanwhile kept up with the race and overtook Newcastle on the final weeks with 3 points. United have to beat Middlesbrough on the last day to win while Newcastle must do the same against Spurs and hope United lose to win the title on goal difference. United won 3-0 to clinch the title down by the riverside.
United nearly went out of the FA Cup then as at one stage trail Sunderland 2-1 at Old Trafford in the 3rd Round. It was Cantona who salvage a replay with United won. In the semi finals, Chelsea was leading in the first half but Beckham and Cole scored in the second half to set United up for the final against Liverpool.
The final was a dull game, which was won by a single Cantona Goal. Cantona was the first French Cup winning Captain to raise the FA Cup on the 39 steps and for United.