The flying squads

ALEX FERGUSON believes this is his best ever Manchester United squad, but the class of 2007 are facing some stiff competition.

1992-1994: United were growing desperate after just missing out on the league title in 1992, but Ferguson delivered the following season with a squad rich in experience and quality. Stalwarts such as Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister and Paul Ince were supplemented by the genius of Eric Cantona as United won the league in 1993 and the double in 1994.

1995-2001: United’s golden generation. A squad brimming with home-grown talent — Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes, David Beckham, the Nevilles and Ryan Giggs — and led impeccably by Roy Keane took the Premier League and Europe by storm. The league, FA Cup and Champions League treble in 1998-99 remains a unique achievement and they exerted a stranglehold on the English game which was virtually unbroken over seven glorious years.