Juve. They helped in the making of the team who won the cup in '99.
"The team who won the European Cup took a lot of lessons from Juve in
those earlier years. They featured so importantly and highly on our learning
curve. That first experience in Turin was a real lesson. We lost 1-0 in 1996 but
it could have been five and we never had a shot on goal all night.
"The set of lads who'd come through together were 21 at the time. They had
Del Piero, Zidane, Boksic, Vieri, Conte, and Deschamps. They were so quick,
a powerful team and as tough a defence as I've seen. They were the toughest
team I have ever faced in Europe and it was a real learning experience.
"That game in Turin was the only time I have come off in a match for United
and thought that you had to hold your hands up and say you were beaten by a
better team. They were a sensational side. We were disappointed in the
dressing room but not too down and depressed because we realised how
good they were.
"It showed how far away we were from the top level in Europe. We were well
behind them at the start of our meetings. They were the best in Europe by a
long way and to improve against them was vital.
"After getting battered in Turin that first time, we gradually improved against
them. It was important for us to measure our progress against Juve. It gave us
confidence and belief. It then became dog-eat-dog for a while. We slowly got
nearer and nearer to them, which was a big thing for us, before we eventually
overtook them in '99. It was a great feeling to progress and become better
than them.
"I love playing them. I think of them as a great and big club. I remember their
players being humble after matches. Always shook your hand, swapped shirts
and were nice people. But on the pitch they were aggressive and powerful."
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