Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt both felt the same way that only one legendary former player could have stopped one of their ex-Manchester United teammates.
The two Manchester United legends were both part of the iconic Sir Alex Ferguson side that captured a famous continental treble in the 1998-99 season.
Sir Alex Ferguson, who is widely regarded as one of the best managers in history, became the first head coach to lead an English team to a treble feat.
Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes had both established themselves as key first-team players under legendary former United manager Ferguson in the 1990s.
Two of the famed ‘Class of ‘92’ members, Scholes and Butt rose to prominence in the United youth academy before making a name for themselves under Ferguson.
United edged out Arsenal by a single point in the nail-biting Premier League title race in the 1998-99 season before capturing the FA Cup trophy.
Scholes and Butt on Man Utd legend
Following the Premier League title and FA Cup triumph, Manchester United completed the final stage of the treble with the Champions League trophy.
The Red Devils engineered a famous late comeback win against Bayern Munich in the Champions League final at the Camp Nou in 1999.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s men secured a 2-1 win over Bayern Munich after United legends Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer both scored in injury time.
Ferguson already faced a major setback for the 1999 Champions League final after Paul Scholes and former captain Roy Keane were both suspended for the match.
The 82-year-old Scotsman deployed Ryan Giggs out on the right and Jesper Blomqvist, with Nicky Butt in the heart of midfield with David Beckham.
Speaking on the Football’s Greatest podcast, Butt admitted that he would have deployed Ryan Giggs out on the left wing and put Jesper Blomqvist out on the right.
Butt waxed lyrical about fellow Class of ’92 member Giggs and believes only legendary former Brazil full-back Cafu could have stopped him in that form.
Scholes, who has praised Giggs’ brilliance in the past, fully agreed with former United teammate Butt about the incredible form of the Welshman.
“I would have played Giggsy on the left. Jesper on the right,” Butt said.
“I mean, it’s easy in hindsight looking back on that. The manager got it right because the history proves it but I just think…
“On that year, Ryan when he was taking people on, only Cafu I’d seen could stop him. The rest… nobody else would stop him.”
Scholes on watching Champions League final
Butt asked former United teammate Scholes what his and Keane’s experience was like watching the Champions League final against Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou.
“It was very relaxed, really,” Scholes said.
“I think when you’re not playing, it takes a bit of nervousness away, doesn’t it? There’s nothing you can do. It’s not in your hands, you can’t get involved with it.
“But you’re just hoping you find something from somewhere. Me and Roy were really quiet. You’re sat in around fans as well, so it’s quite difficult.
“We sat with [former United assistant manager] Jim Ryan. Jim Ryan was a bit… he had a bit to say. He was always talking, he was always shouting, he was always doing something.”
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