Gary Lineker has revealed that George Best missed Manchester United winning the 1998/99 Champions League after he left the final early.
Manchester United Vs. Bayern Munich 1998/99 Champions League Final
Having already won the FA Cup and Premier League, Manchester United arrived at the Camp Nou for the 1998/99 Champions League final against Bayern Munich with their eyes firmly set on securing a famous treble.
However, after just 6 minutes the Red Devils received an unwanted setback after Mario Basler put the German superclub 1-0 up.
The scores remained unchanged until the 91st minute, when a David Beckham corner found its way to Ryan Giggs at the edge of the Bayern penalty area, whose scuffed shot was turned in by Teddy Sheringham to level the tie.
With the game petering out and both teams readying themselves for extra time, which in those days was still the golden goal format, Manchester United won another corner.
In the 93rd minute, David Beckham’s inswinging cross was flicked on by Teddy Sheringham towards the back post, where Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was waiting to hand Manchester United a momentous last-ditch victory.
🚨🇳🇴 Solskjaer on the '99 final: "I never watched the whole game. I watched the 15 minutes after I came on once. But I saw that goal a million times." #MUFC
pic.twitter.com/dJh1XRgE83— UtdPlug (@UtdPlug) May 13, 2023
George Best Left The 1998/99 Champions League Final Early
One man who missed Manchester United’s last-gasp victory was legendary former player, George Best.
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast with co-hosts Micah Richards and Alan Shearer, Lineker revealed how the legendary Manchester United No.7 left before the final whistle.
“I was at that game (Champions League final) in ’99 and I was sat behind George Best.
“And George Best left the ground with about 15 minutes to go.”
Continuing, Lineker said: “He did bless him. And he missed the magical moment.”
The Match of the Day host continued: “I lost my wallet when Manchester United scored their second. I still have the same one, it’s got the cobwebs in.
“It was so exciting at the end of the game that I’ve jumped up and I think it fell out of my pocket. Either that or it got lifted.”
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