Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson still blames West Ham for his side missing out on the Premier League title in the 1994/95 season.
During the 1990s, Man United were a dominant force in English football, while West Ham endured a decade of ups and downs.
His reign saw him claim titles in 1992/93, 1993/94, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1998/99 and 1999/00 as well as several cup trophies along the way.
Imagine you’re Nuno – what changes are you making ahead of Newcastle? 💭
Back four? Start Wilson? What would you do? 🤔
The one that slipped away came in the 94-95 campaign when United needed a win at West Ham on the final day to secure the league.
A draw wasn’t enough though, leaving Blackburn to lift the trophy even after their defeat to Liverpool on that same afternoon.
Ferguson was left frustrated not only by his team’s performance but also by West Ham’s determination on the day.
Don Hutchison looks back on the 1995 title race
Don Hutchison, who played a key role in West Ham’s draw against Manchester United, has since reflected that Sir Alex Ferguson’s remarks weren’t entirely off the mark.
West Ham ended up 14th that season and had only won one of their previous three matches before facing United.
Speaking on X, Hutchison admitted that having an impact on the title race gave West Ham some extra drive.
He wrote: “What a day this was. We played out of our skins to stop Man Utd winning the League.”
“Fergie called us ‘a disgrace for turning up for one game that season’ he was right but it’s amazing when you’re safe and the adrenaline of something to play for, how much you can run/fight for it.”
The midfielder’s comments are a window into the past and also serve as a reminder to West Ham, who are still fighting for safety with two games left against Newcastle and Leeds United, both sides with little left to play for this season.
West Ham result shaped Sir Alex Ferguson’s Man Utd rebuild
Looking back on the draw in his autobiography, Sir Alex Ferguson wrote: “I knew then that the team had reached the end of the road. It was time for a change.”
The summer that followed saw significant changes, with Andrei Kanchelskis, Paul Ince and Mark Hughes all moving on.
Ferguson put his trust in Manchester United’s younger players, famously known as the ‘Class of 92’, and they repaid that faith by helping the club to a league and FA Cup double just a year later.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
