Substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer snatched two last-gasp goals to secure a 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich - who had looked the better side for nine tenths of the game.

Bayern had led through Mario Basler's early free-kick and the trophy Ferguson has longed for appeared to be slipping away from him.

"My players never give in," he said. "You always expect they can do something.

"But this time I thought we were beaten.

Bayern's Jens Jeremies challenges Ryan Giggs

"The team spirit is just unbelievable. Everyone works together and is in this together."

United were seemingly dead and buried going into injury time.

But just 30 seconds later, Sheringham stabbed home the equaliser, before Solskjaer sent the 40,000 United fans in Barcelona's Nou Camp - and the millions around the world - into raptures with the winner.

It was a goal which ended 31 years of European heartache for the Reds who lifted the trophy for the first time since 1968 and the days of Sir Matt Busby.

'They won't rest with this'

"I thought it had gone going into the last few minutes, " Ferguson said.

The United boss hailed his players as "incredible human beings" and warned that their hunger for success would lead to more trophies in years to come.

"The future is to keep playing with such pride and the players won't rest on that because they're young.

"It's fantastic. They never give in so you always expect something from them. They are incredible human beings.

"You can talk about tactics all you like but that spirit is unbeatable at times.

"Tonight they just never gave in. We got off to a bad start but kept at them and got our reward.

"In the last 20 minutes we got caught on the counter attack but you've got to gamble in a European final.

"I don't think we've played as well as we have done but Teddy's come on and then Ole, and they've repaid the faith I showed in them."