Wednesday, May 26, 1999 Published at 22:40 GMT 23:40 UK
Fergie modest despite victory
Alex Ferguson's strike partnership of Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole hold the trophy aloft
Manchester United manager, Alex Ferguson, lifted the European Cup in Barcelona on Wednesday and confessed he thought his side had thrown it all away.
"My players never give in," he said. "You always expect they can do something.
"But this time I thought we were beaten.
United were seemingly dead and buried going into injury time.
But just 30 seconds later, Sheringham stabbed home the equaliser, before Solskjaer sent the 40,000 United fans in Barcelona's Nou Camp - and the millions around the world - into raptures with the winner.
It was a goal which ended 31 years of European heartache for the Reds who lifted the trophy for the first time since 1968 and the days of Sir Matt Busby.
'They won't rest with this'
"I thought it had gone going into the last few minutes, " Ferguson said.
"The future is to keep playing with such pride and the players won't rest on that because they're young.
"It's fantastic. They never give in so you always expect something from them. They are incredible human beings.
"You can talk about tactics all you like but that spirit is unbeatable at times.
"Tonight they just never gave in. We got off to a bad start but kept at them and got our reward.
"In the last 20 minutes we got caught on the counter attack but you've got to gamble in a European final.
"I don't think we've played as well as we have done but Teddy's come on and then Ole, and they've repaid the faith I showed in them."