Last May, the Reds won the Premier League on the same day City won the FA Cup.
Now the two Manchester sides are toe-to-toe at the top of the Premier League – both with a goal-laden 100 per cent start to the season – and European Cup football fever has engulfed the entire city for the first time since 1968.
The Capital of Football is buzzing and that, along with United opening their Champions League campaign against their 1968 Wembley victims Benfica, has transported Mancunian winger Aston back 43 years.
“When you went into Manchester in the 60s you could feel it in the air that there was something special happening,” Aston told M.E.N. Sport.
“It was an electric atmosphere. There was a special buzz about the place. The world was changing and the 60s were special and that was heightened by what was happening in Manchester football.
“You always knew that if you didn’t win then your supporters wouldn’t be able to eat on a Saturday night. I had pals who were City fans and the rivalry was friendly but intense.
“That’s definitely back. I have a pet stall on a market and on Saturdays there is so much banter going on now. It hasn’t been like that for ages.”
The Reds’ title sealer at Blackburn last May and the Blues’ Wembley win against Stoke City revived memories of ’68 when Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison’s side won the League Championship and Matt Busby’s United answered with the emotional European Cup success.
That May 29 date at Wembley was to be Aston’s finest hour.
Denis Law was injured and watched the final in hospital but the other two-thirds of the Holy Trinity, George Best and Bobby Charlton, scored against the then European superpower Benfica in the 4-1 success.
But Aston believes Best and Charlton gave him the platform to record one of his greatest performances.
“It was the club’s biggest night at the time because of Matt Busby’s dream but it also turned out to be my biggest evening,” Aston added.
“I suppose all your best goals or unforgettable games are always those on the biggest occasions and they certainly didn’t get bigger than Wembley and a European Cup final.
“Having the famous names in the team that night, like George and Bobby, did benefit me because I knew all the spotlight was on them.
“I remember thinking to myself that of all of them I was probably the one who had nothing to lose. I just thought I would go out and give it a go.”
And Aston certainly did that as he tormented Benfica’s right back Adolfo.
It has been claimed that Adolfo was injured early on and the Reds played on the hobbling defender, giving Aston the ball whenever they could.
“I don’t think he was as injured as he made out, to be honest!” said Aston. If Wembley ’68 was John Aston’s night, then Lisbon 1966 was George Best’s.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s United will play their Group C opener in the Estadio da Luz but it was the old Stadium of Light in the Portuguese capital that was lit up by the Irishman.
United were 3-2 up from the first leg at Old Trafford but European Footballer of the Year Eusebio and a Benfica side who’d been in four European Cup finals in the early 60s and won the trophy twice were expected to progress to the semi-finals.
“They were red-hot favourites and we were given little chance,” recalls Aston.
“George tore them apart. It was a fabulous performance from him. I was on the bench as sub that night and it was an education to witness it. The world woke to Bestie after that.”
The Reds were a free-scoring band in the 60s and Aston believes that has been revived again at Old Trafford this season with United’s stunning 18-goal start to the league campaign.
“It went a bit flat after Cristiano Ronaldo left,” said Aston. “He was a wonderful player and after he went to Real Madrid that extra spark was missing. But I think it is back now. Tweet
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Let's hope the "Magic" stays in Manchester and doesn't stray over the border!
There is no doubt a major change in emphasis from the somewhat sterile cautious approach that we showed on our travels last season, you sense that this years vintage have the bit between their teeth and are determined to do better. Long may it last it's what sets Manchester United apart from other clubs. We want to win but we want to win playing fast aggresive attacking football and so far we have not been dissapointed.
A couple of the naysayers on here whose watchword is CAUTION must be wondering what is going on.
United have had the best set of defenders in world football for nigh on 5 years coupled with some very very talented attacking players the emergence of young Tom and the transformation of the "fat" brazillian has enabled united to adopt this new style. The challenge to the lads who have so far not played much is to follow the example already set. Imo there is not one team in the premiership we need to fear, Match or better the work rate of the opposition every game and we are GUARANTEED a season to remember.
The bit of competition is good for United. It's very early days yet, however, city have a long way to go before they get anywhere near achieving what United have. It's just very very sad that city have had to sell their soul to the arab sugar daddy to bring back some form of rivalry. I know a few life-long English city fans and they really cannot enjoy the clubs recent bit of success because of this selling-out.
All the success of the last 20 years, and now the magic is back, sit back and enjoy the show!
It`s nice to think of the buzz around Manchester as it`s been many years since I was last back.It would be great to get city in the final and give them a good thrashing.
that 3 - 2 first leg at Old trafford still remains one of the greatest games I've ever seen.
Good genuine article from a great player of the past. I am a Blue but I really think we both could make the Champions league final this year, now that would be a day out.
O He's a legend now is he! The 'Rag fans' used to call him 'Mary'. Aston. His mam and dad used to have a shoe shop in Clayton (Less than half a mile from City's ground) and John was hated that much that the kids used to 'egg' the windows and push all kinds of 'unmentionables' through the letterbox.
Then he got picked and played in the final in '68 - he had a good game and then would you believe it 'a legend was born'
That was just an early example of 'Rag hypocrasy' which has continued to the present day.
My Dad told me stories when I was a kid about John Aston that night. Truth be told, he still does when he's had a few. Have seen the game a few times but not the same. Still the words "old-fashioned winger" comes to mind about John Aston, every time I see it. There was probably more to the lad than that. ISDEP?
On another point; he has a "pet stall on a market". Nothing wrong with earning an honest living, however you do it. Maybe he loves it, but personally I'd prefer he profited bigtime from his career in the game and was sitting back sipping large ones now. Next time someone's banging on to you about how overpaid footballers are these days, ask yourself why no-one ever says the same about golfers, tennis players etc. I wish all those scouse tv pundits had made millions. We wouldn't have to listen to them now.
I remember that game so well. The travel down on a coach full of family and friends. I must have chatted with everyone on the ride down! The excitement, the longing to win. Benfica seemed a huge club, foreign and mysterious to this fourteen year old Manc, who had only been as far away as Wolverhampton.
The game was astonishing to me. It ebbed and flowed. The goals. The roar of the crowd. Surrounded by all the people who were most important to me in my young life. We all cried watching Sir Matt . That big old smile from ear to ear. The lifting of the trophy. The ride home. Sneaking my first bottle of ale at the Watford Gap, my second one at Birmingham, and throwing it all away at Stoke. A weeks detention at school and a thousand lines on " education is more important than football " from my form teacher: a Burnley fan. My first European Final and my first hangover, priceless.
Yeah and Eusebio should have gone to spec savers after the 68' European Cup Final!
Clean through on goal with the scores level, five minutes left of the 90 and he hits the ball straight at Stepney! United won well in extra time but come on Eusebio should have 'killed' United off in normal time. Both United and Stepney lived off the moment for years,they milked it without doubt and United fans around at the time cant deny it!
As for John Aston he was a target for the United boo boys and they constantly 'slagged' him off but in that final he was one of United's best players which should have left his critics with a huge embarrassment but it didn't because like the fans are today most of them are hypocritical and in essence have more faces than the town hall clock!
Let's be honest John Aston gave a world class performance on that magical night at Wembley but was way below average for the rest of his career.
To this day I still cannot fathom out why he was so good on that night and so mediocre up to and after.
Some Reds have said that Brian Kidd would not have played if Denis had not been injured but I have always thought it was Aston who would not have played.
Okay he might have had a few goodish games but was no where near the standard of those around him.
But he was and is a great part of our history because of that incredible performance and it is for that I will always thank him for.
You are so right but do not worry Trafford is the past and Manchester is the future.