Didi Hamann and Nobby Solano have lifted the lid on the chaotic scenes at half-time the last time Newcastle United played at Wembley in a major final against Manchester United.
It was during the interval that under-fire Ruud Gullit ended up in a row with Nobby Solano after hooking the player for the second half in the FA Cup final and sending him for an early shower - only tell him to get his kit back on after Hamann indicated he could no longer continue. But Hamann has now explained that he was injured by his OWN player during he first half against the Red Devils.
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United had gone into the game as underdogs against the team already crowned Premier League champions. But after making a tepid start to the game, they fell behind to Teddy Sheringham's opener and things soon got worse.
Hamann told Chronicle Live: "I got a bad knock to my hip. I got a knee into my hip after 20 minutes or so, it was actually Rob Lee that did it, my own man!
"We both challenged for the same ball and he jumped and hit me with his knee. I struggled to walk after that.
"I had a bit of treatment but it was obvious during the half-time break I would have to come off. I'm not a player that likes to come off but I felt it was the only option as I could hardly walk. It didn't make sense to play on."
The man who thought he'd paid the price for a poor first half was Solano who takes up the tale and says: "The thing I remember the most is half-time because he told me I was off. Gullit just said: 'Hey Nobby - you're hooked'.
"Duncan Ferguson was coming on and I was off, my cup final over after 45 minutes after a lifetime of dreaming it. But then Didi Hamann said: 'Gaffer take me off I have hurt myself'. And after being in the shower, I was shouted back, I was going back on.
"I'd already taken my kit off and started contemplating what I'd done wrong then the next thing I was given a reprieve. I was back on the pitch!"
Hamann knows though that Newcastle didn't make a good account of themselves at Wembley that day. The second half did not improve despite having Duncan Ferguson thrown into the battle as Paul Scholes doubled Man United's lead.
The former Germany star said: "We played against a brilliant Manchester United team that day and they only did what they had to. We couldn't really test them.
"At the same time, they had the Champions League final not long after. I think we had one or two chances in the first half, and if we'd played a bit better on the day maybe we could have achieved more, we probably should have made it more than a test for them.
"That was the disappointing thing. On the day they only had to do what they needed to. That was down to us. They did win the treble that year and were a brilliant side. Sometimes you just have to accept the other team is better and that was the case that day."
Solano felt it was the beginning of the end for Gullit and said: "It felt that way for Ruud. He was a wonderful player but he had problems with some of the stars at Newcastle and it wasn't sustainable.
"I'd only been at Newcastle a year and I was on to my third manager in 1999 with Sir Bobby Robson. I quickly learned how cut and thrust it was in management."
Hamann hopes that it can be a better day out for Geordie fans this time around. And 24 years on, he feels that it will be a closer affair between the sides than in 1999.
The ex-Bayern Munich star said: "Man United have been going well now for a while. With Newcastle, they'll always lose games along the way.
"Virgil van Dijk was back at the weekend and I think that made a big difference to the game on Saturday against Liverpool. Newcastle probably played Liverpool at just the wrong time.
"But I wouldn't be too concerned for Newcastle, this is a cup final and everybody knows the importance of it. Sometimes when you are the underdog it takes a bit of pressure off, I wouldn't worry they still have a great chance."
Solano said: "Man United will be tough. It is an opportunity but I think it might be closer to 1999. There is a better chance.
"The team spirit all around the pitch looks really good and everybody seems to be so happy. Everybody is doing well and nobody wants to miss the opportunity to finally win a cup.
"I still think if we are looking at Man City as the benchmark they need a bit more quality. Maybe they need another striker to bolster the attack who can get 20 goals or so. But so far so good for the new owners and Eddie Howe."
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