Manchester United's Treble Winners Are Statistically The Worst Champions League Winners

Sir Alex Ferguson and his Manchester United team might have won an unprecedented treble 20 years ago but they were the worst team to win the Champions League, according to the stats.

It must have been pretty rubbish for everyone at Old Trafford last weekend, as it has been for much of the season in fairness, for Manchester United fans and players it was a reminder of how good they used to be, for Bayern Munich it was a reminder of their crushing loss.

The teams from the 1999 Champions League final, and some added extras, got together to play out the reunion match, exactly 20 years on, last Sunday.

Of course two decades ago, wow that seems like a long time, the Red Devils required very late goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, both on as subs, to win the game.

Everyone remembers it as an incredible victory for United and the Champions League success as an amazing achievement to crown what was a historic season.

However according to Opta Stats, via Your Promotional Code, the Treble winners are actually the worst Champions League winners of all time, statistically:

Treble winners weren't as good as previously thought. Image: Opta

Fergie's side in 1998/99 have the worst win rate of all the teams who have won the competition, five percent worse than Fabio Capello's Milan side from 1993/94.

The English side also conceded far more goals per game than the rest of the teams in the bottom five, more than a goal a game more than the Milan from the early 90s.

Although it's also worth pointing out that Fergie's men, again like Milan, did remain unbeaten throughout their European campaign and their goals scored record was also impressive.

As far as the best winners are concerned Carlo Ancelotti's La Decima winning team top the standings:

The Champions League best winners. Image: Opta

In United's defence they did have to face Barcelona and Bayern Munich in the group stage before facing excellent Inter and Juventus teams in the knockout stages and then came the rematch with Bayern at the Nou Camp.

Either Spurs or Liverpool will be joining the list of winners this year when the two sides face in Madrid on Saturday night.

Will it be the north London side celebrating or will it be a sixth European title for the Merseysiders?

Topics: Spurs, Liverpool, The Treble, Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, champions league final, Champions League, Bayern Munich

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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