'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Manchester United is a name synonymous with glory, trophies and history. However, the best definition of the club has to be the acquired title of "Comeback Kings". Manchester United in the past have always been relentless, unconquerable and had it in them to fight till the very end of games. Perhaps the greatest example of this attribute was the 1999 Champions League Final, where United produced what is largely considered to one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the tournament and of the beautiful game.
Ever since the Champions League was introduced in 1992, Manchester United have won the tournament twice and reached the finals on 4 occasions. They have showcased some fantastic talents and have contributed to the rising popularity of the UEFA Champions League. As such, it is only fitting that Manchester United have some stellar records to their name in the tournament.
All these records were reached under the guidance of United's legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who won the trophy twice with two different sets of players he had developed with his own hands. Today, we take a look at 3 such incredible records, which might not be broken anytime soon.
#3 Longest run in Champions League without conceding from the start of a campaign
Manchester United went 481 minutes without conceding in the UEFA Champions League in the 2010/11 season, from the first game of the group stages to the 6th game, which is a record that is yet to be broken. In the same season, United played 6 away games without conceding a goal, becoming the only team to do so till date.
United were drawn in group C, along with Valencia, Rangers, and Bursaspor. The Red Devils started their campaign with a 0-0 draw against Rangers at home, with Thomas Kuszczak in goal. Next, United won 1-0 away at Valencia, where Edwin Van der Sar started between the sticks. On Matchday 3, United won 1-0 at home against Bursaspor, courtesy of a Nani goal, while Kuszczak returned in goal. For the away game against Bursaspor next, Van der Saar returned to keep a clean sheet as United won 3-0. It had now been 360 minutes since United had conceded a goal in the Champions League.
In the 5th game of the group stages, United won 1-0 in the away leg against Rangers, with Van der Saar continuing in goal, as the Red Devils made it 450 minutes without conceding. However, in the last game of the group stages at Old Trafford against Valencia, Pablo Hernendez gave the away side a lead in the 32nd minute, breaking United's run of consecutive clean sheets. Incidentally, it was Ben Amos, the United third choice goalkeeper who had started the game and had conceded the goal. United did go on to equalize through Anderson on the night, and it meant that United had gone 481 minutes without conceding in the tournament, a record that still has not been broken
#2 Longest unbeaten run in Champions League history
In the 2007/08 season, Manchester United were drawn in Group F, along with AS Roma, Sporting CP and Dynamo Kyiv. United started the campaign with a 1-0 win away to Sporting CP and it was a start of something magical. The Premier League side finished the group stages with 16 points, winning 5 of their 6 games and drawing one. The undefeated run had just begun.
In the round of 16 United were drawn against Lyon and the Red Devils drew the away leg 1-1 and won the home leg 1-0. Faced against Roma in the Quarter Finals, United won the away leg 2-0 and the home leg 1-0 to proceed into the Semi-Finals, where they were pitted against Spanish Giants Barcelona.
United drew the away leg at Nou Camp 0-0 and a Paul Scholes stunner secured a memorable 1-0 home leg win, that saw United progress into the finals against Chelsea. When United lifted the 2008 Champions League trophy after defeating Chelsea, they had been unbeaten for 13 games.
Next season, by the time United had defeated Arsenal 3-1 in the away leg of the Semi Final to reach the final again, United had been unbeaten for 25 games, which was a Champions League record. Unfortunately, they were defeated by Barcelona in 2009 final, which meant that the unbeaten run came to an end, but the record stands to this day, highlighting what a great side that Manchester United team was.
Incidentally, United also boast the longest undefeated home run - 29 games, as well as longest undefeated away run - 16 games, in the tournament.
#1 Only team in Champions League era to finish unbeaten twice
Manchester United won two UEFA Champions League trophies under Sir Alex Ferguson and in both campaigns, United had finished unbeaten. The first unbeaten streak had started long back in the 1998/99 season.
That year, United began the season by defeating LKS Lodz in the second qualifying round to enter the group stages. They were drawn in Group D along with Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Brondby, a classic group of Death. United won 2 and drew 4 of their 6 games and finished second in the group.
United faced Inter Milan in the Quarter Finals, where they won the first leg 2-0 and drew the away leg 1-1, moving to the Semi-Finals, where Juventus awaited them. In one of the greatest Semi-Finals ever played, United didn't just overcome the Old Lady, but managed to keep their unbeaten status intact, drawing 1-1 in the first leg and rallying in the second leg to win 3-2. This set them up with Bayern Munich in the finals.
United went behind as early as the 6th minute, but the stage was set for the greatest comeback in the history of the tournament, as United scored twice in second-half injury time to lift the trophy, unbeaten.
When United won the 2007/08 Champions League, they had completed their second unbeaten season in the tournament, the only team till date to do so.
