United legend Rio Ferdinand looked back at the Red Devils’ last European trophy and remembered the bad signs that preceded their big game in Russia.
Ferdinand remembered the experienced players facing off against the young aces the night before their big clash with Chelsea at the Luzhniki Stadium.
The experienced players were looking for a big morale boost but it all went south as current Brighton star Welbeck netted a hat-trick and delivered a major blow to the stars’ ego.
That led to a major argument which “could not have gone any worse” for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.
Ferdinand told his FIVE show: “The night before, we used to play older team versus younger team.
“Welbeck scored a hat-trick. The night before the Luzhniki Stadium, he scored a hat-trick against us.
“Big arguments on the pitch, everyone is going crazy. Wow that last session before the big Champions League final could not have gone any worse. Terrible.”
However, United managed to overcome their training ground drama the next night.
The Red Devils defeated Chelsea in a dramatic penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw.
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Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring for the Manchester giants after 26 minutes.
But Chelsea’s current interim manager Frank Lampard equalised for the West Londoners just before half-time.
United went on to win 6-5 on penalties when John Terry’s disastrous slip saved Ronaldo’s blushes before sudden death.
That was when Edwin van der Sar denied Nicolas Anelka’s spot-kick to land the club’s third European title.