Former Manchester United star Dwight Yorke believes Erling Haaland wouldn't make it into United's 1999 treble-winning team, with Yorke himself helping keep the Norwegian out.
Haaland has broken the Premier League goalscoring record this season, and also leads the way in the Champions League. His efforts leave Manchester City on the verge of an historic treble, matching the achievements of Yorke's United team before the turn of the century.
United left it late to make sure of their treble, wrapping up the Premier League title on the final day of the season and needing a stoppage-time winner in the Champions League final. City may yet find themselves in a similar position, with the added spice of United standing in their way in the FA Cup final, but Yorke stuck by his own colleagues when naming a combined XI.
"If there is anyone who has a really good chance to get in our 1999 treble side, then it's Kevin De Bruyne," Yorke told King Casino Bonus. "You can't ignore what a quality player he is, but you have to figure out where he would start.
"But he's the only one, even as great as Erling Haaland is, we had a certain way to play up front. It's not about who can score more goals but about the style of the team and how it won the treble. I wouldn't say we lacked De Bruyne's qualities in the team because we had Paul Scholes, but he does have this deceptive explosiveness that I like.
Yorke also backed Jaap Stam and Ronny Johnsen, starters in the 1999 Champions League final, ahead of John Stones. On the subject of Haaland, though, the Trinidad and Tobago international valued the chemistry he had with Andy Cole as a greater asset than the City striker's goals.
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"Haaland would not get into our team with the way we played, no chance," the 51-year-old added. "Why would you want to disrupt the link-up play me and Andy Cole had? Haaland may get 50 goals by himself but me and Cole got that combined with an added chemistry."
Yorke scored 29 goals in all competitions in the 1998-99 season, with Cole contributing 24. Neither notched in the Champions League final, though, with substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer inspiring a late turnaround against Bayern Munich.
United went unbeaten throughout their European campaign under Alex Ferguson, overcoming Inter Milan and Juventus on their way to the final. City will have done the same if they go all the way this season, and could face Inter in the final after Simone Inzaghi's side gained a first-leg advantage over AC Milan.
When it comes to the league, though, City have already surpassed the 79-point tally it took for United to come out on top in 1999. Maximum points from their remaining games would also see Pep Guardiola's side pass United's best ever return in a 38-game Premier League season, which they secured in 1999-2000.
