'Luck' - Why Man City's treble would surpass Manchester United's historic 1999 achievement

Paul Merson believes Manchester City's treble would surpass Manchester United's because 'luck' in 1999.

Pep Guardiola's side won the Premier League title with three games to spare. They will face United in the FA Cup final at Wembley on June 3 before taking on Inter Milan seven days later.

If City were to win the treble, they would inevitably be compared to the United side that achieved the same feat under Sir Alex Ferguson 24 years ago. Merson believes that City's haul would be more impressive such was the luck United enjoyed in 1999.

"If Manchester City win the treble, it will be the best ever," Merson told Sky Sports. "If you go through the Manchester United one in 1998/99, Dennis Bergkamp misses a penalty with the last kick of the game in the FA Cup semi-final, United win.

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"Against Bayern Munich, it wasn't far off one of the most one-sided Champions League finals you'll ever see. Bayern were taking people off at the end to get a round of applause. Players were running through trying to lob Peter Schmeichel.

"In the Premier League, the title was in Arsenal's hands before they lost at Leeds in the penultimate game of the season. Manchester United got lucky in 1999, but if City go on and win the treble, there will be no luck involved at all.

"City destroyed reigning champions Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final, they embarrassed them, it was cringe-worthy. Even when City played Arsenal away in the Premier League, which was a must-win game, they played that game with the confidence that even if Arsenal had won, they would still catch them. They are the only team about that can reel off 10 or more