Sir Alex Ferguson was once told by the Queen that no other team would secure the treble as Manchester United did in 1999, but the Red Devils' rivals have since proven her wrong
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Pep Guardiola of Manchester City after his side's 1-0 defeat
Pep Guardiola won the treble with Manchester City(Image: Getty Images)
Queen Elizabeth II told Sir Alex Ferguson that no other team would replicate Manchester United's treble victory of 1999, only to be proved wrong by Pep Guardiola.
Sir Alex Ferguson will be forever remembered as one of the most successful managers in Premier League history, notching up 13 league titles, 19 domestic trophies, and two Champions Leagues during his remarkable 27-year reign at Old Trafford. Yet, his most lauded accomplishment remains as seizing the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League treble in the 1998/99 season.
An unrivalled achievement at the time, the year 1999 saw Ferguson honoured with a knighthood for his contributions to football. The now 83-year-old Scotsman has since shared tales of an exchange he had with the Queen after the ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
He has previously said: "The Queen told me she doesn't think it will ever be achieved again, and she's right. The culmination of three trophies was the pinnacle of my career, and it has been rewarded with a knighthood.
"It's such a proud moment for me, my family and for the club because it is a team effort." The prediction by the Queen seemed set to stand throughout Ferguson’s time at United, with the club dominating the English top flight, but the landscape shifted with Guardiola's arrival at Manchester City in 2016, ushering in a new era.
The Spanish manager secured a Premier League title and a League Cup in his second season at the Etihad, immediately indicating great potential for the Blue half of Manchester. And in 2023, Guardiola became only the second Premier League manager to achieve the treble, contradicting the Queen's prediction made over two decades ago.
That season, City finished five points ahead of Arsenal in the Premier League table after a tightly contested race for the title. They triumphed over fierce rivals United 2-1 in the FA Cup final due to an Ilkay Gundogan double, and defeated Inter Milan 1-0 in the Champions League final.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II speaks
Queen Elizabeth II missed the mark with her predictions for Manchester United
However, as the 2024/25 season draws to a close, neither United nor City have much to celebrate. With just one match left to play on Sunday, City must defeat Fulham at Craven Cottage to secure their place in next season's Champions League.
Currently third in the league, a defeat for them coupled with victories for Chelsea, Newcastle and Aston Villa could see them drop to as low as sixth in the table, qualifying them for Europa League football instead. The team has also had little success in cup competitions, losing to Crystal Palace in this year's FA Cup final, being eliminated from the Champions League by Real Madrid in the knockout stages, and being ousted from the Carabao Cup by Tottenham in the round of 16.
Manchester United, on the other hand, have endured their worst season in the club's history. Ruben Amorim took over following Erik ten Hag's sacking in October, managing to secure only seven victories on top of the three that the Dutchman had already achieved.
Sir Alex Ferguson in the dugout
Sir Alex Ferguson has recalled a conversation with the Queen
Consequently, United find themselves potentially facing a 16th-place finish in the Premier League, although they could rise as high as 14th with a victory against Villa, depending on other outcomes. Conversely, they could also end up as low as 17th if they stumble on Sunday and Tottenham manage at least a draw against Brighton.
It's a stark contrast from the halcyon days under Ferguson, and Red Devil supporters will be keen to bid farewell to a disappointing season and call for a rebuild during the summer.