![]() ![]() United were the first English side to reach a European Cup final in 14 years, although that did include the five-year ban following the Heysel disaster in 1985. Who was the first man on the moon? And who was the second? Who was the first to break the four-minute mile? And who then did it? It is easier to recall the first over second, clearly. It would, obviously, have ended any debate.īeing the first does matter, though. Indeed, but for a strange performance in losing to Nathan Jones’ Southampton in the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup – a tournament United went on to win – they could have had a clean sweep this season. Although no-one would rule that out as long as Pep Guardiola is in charge. There can only be one first and while City have now matched it, they can only surpass it by doing it again. At Wembley it felt, for United, more about stopping City from gaining the second leg of the Treble rather than actually winning the Cup.īut they will always have the comfort of United being the first. United fans will have been as desperate for City to fail as they were for their side to triumph in last Saturday’s FA Cup final. But City’s team, as a team, is the better. And the conclusion? Surely United’s achievement is the more impressive, given the context in which it happened, given it was the first. It can never be settled but it can be discussed. Which team – City 22-23 or United 98-99 – is the best? Whose achievement is the greatest? The most heated and, yes, the most unresolvable of debates. ![]() ![]() For Manchester as a city, rather than Manchester City, it means it can arguably lay claim to being the centre of the sport in the country.īut City’s achievement sparks another debate. There are just four and a half miles between the stadiums of Manchester United and Manchester City, and there are 24 years between the clubs becoming the only ones in the history of English football to complete the Treble.Ĭity are now the noisiest of neighbours in joining United by winning the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup. ![]()
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