The legendary Red Devils coach: The road to success

Chapter 24 Aberdeen Miracle

"Ferguson led Aberdeen to defeat Real Madrid and win the European Cup Winners' Cup, achieving a great goal that the club never dared to think of. This is Aberdeen's miracle, unprecedented success, a peak that has never been reached, and an incredible achievement."

--Inscription

For Aberdeen fans, the 1982-1983 season was a journey of miracles, a great epic beyond their imagination.

The team they supported fought bravely this season and fought hard in the European Cup Winners' Cup despite being underdogs. Ferguson eventually led the team to break the shackles, break the myth of the European super giants, achieve unparalleled victories in the European arena, and write the most glorious and magnificent chapter.

The European Cup Winners' Cup is an important European football event, which is attended by the cup champions of each country's league. Although it is less important than the European Cup, it is also attended by strong teams and top teams. This season, La Liga giants Real Madrid, Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, Serie A giants Inter Milan, Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain and others are all competing for the championship trophy, and the competition is fierce.

Aberdeen won the cup last season and therefore participated in the European Cup Winners' Cup. According to the competition system, Ferguson's team first participated in the preliminaries in mid-August and eliminated the opponent before they could play in the main competition. In the preliminaries, Aberdeen's opponent was the Swiss team Sien. Aberdeen defeated the opponent 8-7 in the first round and 0-4 in the second round, and defeated the opponent with a huge score of 1-11 in the two rounds, thus advancing.

Aberdeen faced Dinamo Dilana of Albania in the first round of the knockout round. Aberdeen eliminated their opponent with Hewitt's only goal in the 10th minute of the first round. In the second round, they faced the Polish team Poznan Lek, and Ferguson's team gave their opponent a 3-0 victory and successfully entered the quarterfinals.

Aberdeen met the Bundesliga giant Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals. The Bundesliga giant had superstar Rummenigge, powerful goalkeeper Muller, and powerful players such as Brüttner and Eugenthaler, and was one of the favorites to win the championship at the time. The first game between the two teams was played at Bayern's home stadium. Before the game, the media overwhelmingly believed that Aberdeen would be easily defeated because Bayern had just scored 4 goals against Tottenham Hotspur at home. Ferguson was unmoved and had no fear at all. He commanded the team steadily and withstood Bayern's strong attack. Bayern created many good opportunities to score in front of the goal, but Aberdeen's legendary goalkeeper Jim Leighton seemed like a god on the goal line, constantly saving and blocking, and trying his best to keep the goal.

After returning to the home court, Ferguson changed his conservative attitude and took the initiative to attack fiercely from the beginning. However, this could not shake the experienced Bayern. The calm Germans seized the opportunity and scored a goal in the 10th minute through a counterattack by Klaus Eugenthaler. Aberdeen fell behind at home and had to attack with all their might. In the second half, Aberdeen's fierce attack was effective, and Neil Simpson equalized the score in the 61st minute. But Bayern's Hans Buffrugel then scored a long shot from 18 yards, changing the score to 2-1.

Ferguson was extremely anxious, but he remained calm and confident. He later told reporters: "I had to calm myself down first and put all distractions behind me. I substituted players like Hewitt who could run and charge, and told the players to give it their all. There must still be a chance."

Ferguson replaced John McMaster and the 20-year-old young player John Hewitt. Later, these two substitutions proved to be a stroke of genius. After the substitution, Aberdeen attacked the opponent more fiercely and won a free kick in the front court in the 76th minute. Strachan and McMaster both ran to the penalty spot and collided with each other. They "argued" fiercely, vying to take the penalty with red faces. Just when the Bayern defenders felt both amused and a little overwhelmed, Strachan suddenly passed the ball into the penalty area, and McLeish headed the ball directly into the goal - 2-2!

The Germans were stunned!

Aberdeen's morale was boosted, and they launched a quick attack. McMaster made a precise long pass, and Black headed the ball in front of the goal. Bayern goalkeeper Muller used all his strength to save the ball, but Hewitt easily made a follow-up shot and scored. 3 to 2 - an amazing reversal.

After eliminating Bayern, Aberdeen easily defeated the Belgian team Waterscheid in the semi-finals and advanced to the final.

In the final, Aberdeen faced Real Madrid.

Real Madrid is a very famous team led by the "Ancient God" of La Liga, Di Stefano. It has 8 Spanish internationals, including captain Juanit, Santallana, Camacho and other superstars.

Ferguson specially invited his mentor Jock Stein to the team to share his experience. The legendary Scottish coach taught Ferguson a trick: give Di Stefano a bottle of fine Scotch whisky, "let him think you are his fan and let him down."

Di Stefano was indeed full of disdain for Ferguson. Not only did he refuse Ferguson's suggestion of a few drinks after the game, but he also didn't like the Scotch whisky Ferguson sent him. Arrogance also quickly spread to the Real Madrid locker room. The players didn't even discuss the game specifically or make detailed tactical preparations.

Ferguson made a big fuss about it and motivated his players, "There are enemies everywhere here, whether it's opponents, the media, or fans, no one respects you. This is a humiliation. If you don't want this, then fight back against them. Fuck your arrogance, fuck your arrogance!"

Strachan still remembered the mobilization meeting many years later. "The wild energy in the locker room was crazy. Everyone wanted to roar, but they tried hard to suppress it. Everyone's eyes were red and their teeth were chattering. If that kind of energy could generate electricity, I think it would light up the whole of northern Scotland."

There was heavy rain before the game, and the pitch was muddy, which was more advantageous for Aberdeen, a team with better physical strength; the final was held in Sweden in Northern Europe, and the temperature dropped sharply at night. The Spanish giants from Southern Europe were not as adaptable as Aberdeen; and the Scottish fans poured in, with their numbers far exceeding those of the opponent, making Aberdeen feel like they were playing at home.

Ferguson also had his worries. Dougie Bell was out due to injury, and the main right back Stuart Kennedy was injured and unable to play, which was a big loss for the team. In the end, Ferguson arranged a classic 442 starting lineup for the final: goalkeeper Jimmy Leighton, McLeish and captain Willie Miller as central defenders, Doug Roggevey as right back, McMaster as left back; Strachan and Simpson in the middle of the midfield, Cooper on the right, Peter Weir on the left; McGee and Black as the double strikers.

The final started on the muddy grass in Gothenburg. Ferguson surprised everyone right from the start. Aberdeen put on an aggressive offensive posture. Ferguson was determined to start the game. His players rushed towards the opponent with a roar, just like a group of beggars who had been hungry for half a month rushing towards a group of fat sheep. Aberdeen's Blake hit the goal frame with a powerful shot from 4 yards just 20 minutes into the game, which made the entire Real Madrid team panic. In the 6th minute, Real Madrid goalkeeper Augustine made a mistake in the opening kick. Strachan quickly passed the ball to Blake after stealing it, and Blake immediately shot hard. Augustine flew to save the ball from the crossbar in shock, and everyone in Real Madrid broke into a cold sweat. While the Real Madrid players were still in shock, Strachan took the corner kick and passed it to McLeish, who headed the ball. This time Blake did not miss the opportunity. He flashed out like a ghost and sent the ball into the net. Aberdeen led 1-0!

Real Madrid woke up after falling behind and immediately organized a fierce counterattack. In the 22nd minute, McLeish made a mistake in a panic. The back pass he kicked to Jim Leighton was stuck on the waterlogged grass. Real Madrid's Santaliana rushed over. Leighton rushed out and couldn't clear the ball in time, so he could only knock him down. Penalty! Juanito scored the penalty and the score became 1-1.

At the end of the first half, the two sides were tied 1-1.

Ferguson changed his tactics at halftime. In the first half, he arranged for Peter Weir to go deep into the opponent's half to cause trouble, but in the second half, he asked the No. 11 player to go back to the wing to break through. As a pure winger, Weir performed better in the second half. This former golf course manager who was discovered and trained by Ferguson has excellent footwork and is extremely sharp on the wing. He is as slippery as a little mouse, and the opponent's defenders have suffered a lot from him. Weir easily got rid of the opponent many times, and even tried to humiliate the opponent with juggling moves, and constantly planned threatening attacks. After several breakthroughs, he created excellent scoring opportunities with cross passes, but unfortunately his teammates were wasted by the last kick, or the Real Madrid goalkeeper saved it. Weir became the most terrifying existence in the eyes of Real Madrid players in the second half. After the Real Madrid defenders suffered several losses, every time he got the ball on the wing in the half, several people would always rush up to intercept him.

Even so, Aberdeen's offensive could not be stopped. "Peter is not the type who relies on speed to get rid of the defense when he is 5 yards away from the opponent. He has a unique advantage," said captain Willie Miller. "He will gradually accelerate at 10-15 yards, and will change direction continuously and make a lot of fake moves. For Real Madrid players who are not familiar with him and underestimate him, facing him is a nightmare."

"Not only that, we also have other players who can create chances and threaten opponents. It can be said that Real Madrid was very passive in the second half and they could collapse at any time."

Real Madrid struggled to hold on, but Aberdeen missed several good scoring opportunities and the game was eventually dragged into overtime.

After the overtime began, Ferguson changed his tactics again, letting the young Hewitt run more. Ferguson's roar continued to be heard from the sidelines: "John, you fucking fast break, hurry up!"

The game continued fiercely, with every minute and every second being a physical fight. Real Madrid's Isidoro San Jose replaced Antonio Camacho and punched McGee directly in the corner flag area. This foul escaped a red card, but it became a turning point in the game. The provocative foul angered the Aberdeen players. "I was exhausted at the time, but this offense made me energetic." McGee said.

The entire Aberdeen team was enraged. They suddenly went mad like wild beasts and launched continuous attacks on Real Madrid's hinterland.

Near the end of the second half of overtime, Pete Weir stole the ball from Juanito and began to accelerate. He made two consecutive fake moves and directly shook off Ricardo Garcia. When Juanito and Juan José approached, Weir had already seen his teammate McGee asking for the ball in the open area, so he calmly passed the ball with his left foot.

This was an extremely good arc pass, full of imagination, and the landing point was also wonderful. McGee took the lead and was not polite to the "corner flag boxer" San Jose. He "viciously" knocked Real Madrid's No. 14 out of the boundary and grabbed this key ball.

McGee got the ball, but he was at the end of his rope. He fell to the ground, but managed to pass the ball before falling.

This pass decided everything.

Aberdeen's Hewitt broke out of Real Madrid's penalty area, rushed to the front of the goal like lightning, and smashed the door open with a header!

2 is better than 1!

Everything happened in a flash, and Aberdeen took the lead again.

Hewitt recalled many years later, "I couldn't run anymore. The muddy grass seemed to have countless hands pulling me, but my blood was burning and I didn't allow myself to stop. I saw my teammates' crosses and the desperate face of the opponent's goalkeeper. I knew I would score and we would win!"

Hewitt didn't realize until the end of the game that his feet were swollen and thicker than pig's trotters. He could hardly walk and his whole body was in tatters. In the end, his teammates carried him to the podium.

The referee blew a long whistle, and Aberdeen defeated Real Madrid 2-1 and won the European Cup Winners' Cup!

The Scottish media paid tribute to Ferguson: "Incredible victory, unprecedented success!"

"Aberdeen miracle, Scotland glory, Ferguson achievement!"

"Aberdeen wins the European Championship, a Ferguson-style victory!"

"Ferguson broke all barriers, Real Madrid can only be a background!"

When the good news came, nearly half a million people in Aberdeen poured out and took to the streets to celebrate.

A Scottish team that has defeated Celtic, Rangers, Bayern and Real Madrid in a row... This kind of success is really unimaginable, especially defeating Real Madrid in the European final, which is even more astonishing.

Ferguson deserves great credit, it was he who created this miracle.