20 years on, it remains the greatest single-season achievement in English football’s history. But what would Manchester United’s treble of 1999 look like under a 21st century microscope?

In partnership with StatsBomb, The Independent has analysed three key games in United’s run-in with the hope of offering fresh perspective and insight on an iconic team and a historic achievement.

Now, we look at the FA Cup final victory over Newcastle United: a win which sealed the newly-crowned Premier League champions’ second trophy of the season, just four days before the Champions League final.

Manchester United 2-0 Newcastle United

FA Cup final

22 May 1999

Wembley, London

Match statistics

Click on the images to expand

Match statistics for Manchester United 2-0 Newcastle (StatsBomb)

xG totals

Whereas the semi-final replay against Arsenal was a close run thing, this was much more comfortable.

United won 2-0, thanks to two sublime goals from Teddy Sheringham and Paul Scholes. United’s xG was 2.20, while Newcastle was 1.06.

The shape of the game, as shown by cumulative expected goal values of all shots (StatsBomb)

As graphic above shows, United dominated this match. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side were ahead on both the scoreboard and on this cumulative xG plot from Sheringham’s 11th-minute goal onwards.

Though quiet for the remainder of the first half-hour – perhaps adjusting to the early loss of Roy Keane to injury – United kicked on, scored the second through Scholes and steadily saw the victory out.

Shot locations

And yet, for such a comfortable United win, the shot counts are somewhat surprising. Newcastle practically matched their opponents in shot volume – with 16 to United’s 17 and three to their four on target.

Shot locations, with descriptive information of shot type (StatsBomb)

By visualising the quality of those shots, we see a truer reflection of the game. Whereas United have several decent chances inside or just outside the penalty area (shown in yellow/orange), Newcastle have just two.

Shortly after Scholes’ goal, Temur Ketsbaia rounded an onrushing Peter Schmeichel. Normally, this would mean a clear-cut chance but United defenders narrowed the gap Ketsbaia had to aim at, making the chance worth just 0.20 xG. He could only hit the post.

Ketsbaia’s shot against the post (StatsBomb)

Newcastle’s best opportunity came late on and to Silvio Maric, who shifted past David May and bore down one-on-one with Schmeichel. The Croatian, who would score just twice in his time at the club, put a 0.27 xG chance wide.

Otherwise, like Arsenal in the semi-final, Newcastle were limited to shooting from range by a solid and disciplined United defence.

Ketsbaia and Maric’s opportunities were their only decent chances Ruud Gullit’s side created, and they came when United were already 2-0 up.

Sheringham and Scholes’ goals

Sheringham’s opening goal against Newcastle (StatsBomb)

United may have only had one shot more than Newcastle but they were much better at creating good chances. Sheringham scored with their first, firing through Steve Harper’s legs, just moments after replacing Keane.

Harper’s positioning and Laurent Charvet’s attempt to close Sheringham down made the opportunity more difficult than it should have been after Scholes’ brilliant slide pass, but Sheringham finishes the 0.35 xG chance expertly.

United went close to a second through Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s glancing header in front of a gaping goalmouth (rated as 0.27 xG). Soon after, Andy Cole flicked the ball over Harper (0.36 xG) but it was cleared before it could cross the line.

Scholes‘ goal against Newcastle (StatsBomb)

Scholes’ chance was not as favourable as either Solskjaer’s or Cole’s, with Charvet closing him down quickly. Even so, he finds room to squeeze a shot past Harper regardless, converting a chance that would you could expect to score only one in six times.

United’s build-up play

One point which jumps out from the statistics is that United completed just 64% of their passes, which suggests a far more direct style of play than we are now used to seeing from top sides.

For example, 64% is the same figure that Neil Warnock’s relegated Cardiff City managed in the Premier League this season. It was the lowest percentage of any team in the top flight. 2018-19 United’s was around 82%.

A big reason for that change in build-up is that teams are now more willing to play out of the back than in 1999. Schmeichel completes only 27% of his passes in this game, hitting 46 of them long. Centre-halves Ronny Johnsen and David May pass only 25 times combined.

United’s first-half passing networks (StatsBomb)

United were a direct team with the ball in their own half. Their strategy, as shown by the passing network graphic above, bypassed the defence and sought to get the ball quickly to the talented forward players.

As the red lines and circles indicating high xG passing combinations show, this is where the slick, quick and imaginative attacking interplay that is associated with Ferguson’s ‘99 treble winners happened.

Manchester United 2018-19 player ratings Show all 26 1 /26 Manchester United 2018-19 player ratings Manchester United 2018-19 player ratings Manchester United 2018/19 player ratings How did Manchester United's players perform this season? After a difficult campaign, we give each member of the squad a rating out of 10. AFP/Getty Images Manchester United 2018-19 player ratings David de Gea - 4/10 A poor year by an outstanding goalkeeper’s standards. Confidence seemed to be affected by errors and his limitations in distribution were sometimes exposed. Getty Manchester United 2018-19 player ratings Sergio Romero - 6/10 A dependable back-up in the domestic cups. Sent off in defeat to Derby in September, but did not let Solskjaer down in the run to the FA Cup quarter-finals. Getty Manchester United 2018-19 player ratings Victor Lindelof - 7/10 One of a few to emerge with any credit, even if he was more consistent in the first half of the campaign. His reputation enhanced, he is the only central defender whose place is secure. Getty Manchester United 2018-19 player ratings Phil Jones - 4/10 Unfairly targeted at times but still, eight years on from his arrival, far too injury prone and inconsistent to be depended upon. Even so, signed a new contract until 2023. Getty Manchester United 2018-19 player ratings Chris Smalling - 6/10 Led the defence well during Solskjaer’s first few weeks and months in charge but, like Jones, his limitations are well known by now. Getty Manchester United 2018-19 player ratings Luke Shaw - 7/10 Found confidence, consistency and finally established himself as a first-team regular. It proved enough to be named Player of the Year. Manchester United 2018-19 player ratings Diogo Dalot - 6/10 A new arrival from Porto, Dalot showed glimpses of the potential which persuaded United to part with £19m. A solid if unspectacular debut year should now be built upon. Getty Images Manchester United 2018-19 player ratings Ashley Young - 4/10 Not the long-term solution to the right-back position yet a first-team regular with a chance of being the next club captain. Loyal and diligent but is he still the best option? Getty Manchester United 2018-19 player ratings Antonio Valencia - 3/10 Ends his long United career out of favour, but underwhelmed in the few appearances he made regardless. A correct decision to let him go. Manchester United 2018-19 player ratings Matteo Darmian - 5/10 Somehow still at the club, yet did not totally disgrace himself when called upon for a handful of appearances. Needs to be moved on, nevertheless. Getty Manchester United 2018-19 player ratings Eric Bailly - 3/10 A bad year a player whose Old Trafford career undeniably went backwards. Embarrassed with early substitutions against Newcastle and Paris Saint-Germain. Getty Manchester United 2018-19 player ratings Marcos Rojo - 2/10 The curious United career of Rojo continues. Made just eight appearances, spent long spells sidelined with unspecified injuries, all less than a year after signing a new contract. Getty Manchester United 2018-19 player ratings Nemanja Matic - 4/10 First-choice at the base of midfield yet lacks the speed or technical ability of others in the same position at top clubs. Getty Manchester United 2018-19 player ratings Ander Herrera - 7/10 Impressed when employed as a destroyer and runner type in central midfield by Solskjaer, yet a new contract could not be agreed. Leaves after one of his better years. Getty Manchester United 2018-19 player ratings Paul Pogba - 6/10 Far from the worst offender but another season not commensurate to his talent. His 17 goals from midfield included eight penalties and another three spot-kicks were missed. AFP/Getty Images Manchester United 2018-19 player ratings Scott McTominay - 7/10 Proved himself to be first-team squad material with a series of good performances in the second half of the campaign. Most improved player by some distance. Getty Manchester United 2018-19 player ratings Fred - 4/10 A difficult first year in Manchester for United’s fourth-most expensive signing ever. Looked woefully off-the-pace at times, only moderately effective at others. Needs a big second season. Manchester United 2018-19 player ratings Juan Mata - 5/10 A popular figure but did little to force the club into awarding him a new contract. May leave having rarely been used effectively in his best role and might even regret the wasted years. Manchester United 2018-19 player ratings Andreas Pereira - 5/10 Strike against Southampton won club’s goal of the season award but offered little else to suggest that he is a long-term answer in midfield. Getty Manchester United 2018-19 player ratings Jesse Lingard - 4/10 After an impressive 2017-18, just five goals and four assists is a poor return. Injuries did not help but performances were inconsistent. Getty Manchester United 2018-19 player ratings Anthony Martial - 5/10 The talent is there but is too rarely displayed. Enjoyed a run of good form around October and Christmas, but fell quiet once he had signed a new contract. Getty Manchester United 2018-19 player ratings Alexis Sanchez - 2/10 The Premier League’s best-paid player was not worth a penny. Difficult to find any positives in a wretched season, bar that late goal which may have only prolonged Mourinho’s stay. Getty Manchester United 2018-19 player ratings Romelu Lukaku - 5/10 15 goals in 45 appearances for a £75m striker cannot be dressed up as anything but a disappointment. A player that neither Mourinho or Solskjaer have catered towards. Getty Manchester United 2018-19 player ratings Marcus Rashford - 5/10 Despite enjoying a run of form in the mid-part of the campaign, that was lost by the end. Questions remains over whether he will reach the elite bracket of strikers. Getty Manchester United 2018-19 player ratings Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - 5/10 A promising start, a worrying end. Several odd decisions and a tactical inconsistency have caused concern, but he should only be fully judged with a pre-season behind him. PA

Sheringham’s importance

Two players happened to be particularly effective against Newcastle. Ryan Giggs does not assist either goal but does well, setting up a good chance for Dwight Yorke and finishing with his side’s highest expected assist (xA) rating.

The other is Sheringham, who finishes the match as United’s most creative force in open play. No United player makes more passes. He plays the ball in the final third more often than any team-mate and takes the most touches inside the box too.

Sheringham contributes to two-thirds of everything his team creates at Wembley, topping StatsBomb’s metrics to measure a player’s build-up contributions in open-play. Only David Beckham – who benefits from being on set-pieces – contributes more overall.

StatsBomb xGChain and xGBuildup statistics (StatsBomb)

For a player who comes on as a ninth-minute substitute, it is an influential performance. He also scores a goal and registers an assist, of course. In fact, both United strikes are largely of his own making.

For the first, Sheringham dances past two Newcastle defenders, lays the ball off to Scholes and darts towards the penalty area to await the return pass. Though Scholes’ ball should not go without credit, Sheringham makes the opening.

For the second, Solskjaer pounces brilliantly on Nikos Dabizas to regain possession, but it is Sheringham’s delightfully subtle lay-off that tees up Scholes to convert low from the edge of the penalty area.

Perhaps this was a precursor of things to come. Four days later, against Bayern Munich at the Nou Camp, Sheringham and another bit-part striker would have a telling impact off the substitutes’ bench.

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