The 1996–97 season was another dominant campaign for Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson. They retained the Premier League title, finishing 7 points ahead of Newcastle United, with Eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs, and Andy Cole spearheading a potent attack. United also reached the FA Cup semi-finals, losing 1–0 to Chelsea, and were eliminated in the League Cup fourth round by Leicester City. In Europe, their UEFA Champions League campaign ended in the quarter-finals, falling to Borussia Dortmund. The season reinforced United’s domestic supremacy, blending Ferguson’s experienced stars with the emerging “Class of ’92,” laying foundations for sustained success into the late 1990s.
