I HOPE CITY CAN'T PARTY LIKE IT'S '99

Irwin praying Guardiola's gang doesn't match United treble winners

-  PAUL O'HEHIR

DENIS IRWIN just isn't one for counting his medals.

Sure, he hasn't seen them in years.

Legacy matters more than trinkets to the joint-most successful Irish player of all time.

He shares that honour with his former Manchester United team-mate Roy Keane and Liverpool legend Ronnie Whelan.

The trio won 19 trophies apiece across stellar careers but Irwin and Keane ultimately boast the treble that matters. United remain the only English side to have won the League title, FA Cup and Champions League in the same season.

While Keane was suspended for United's remarkable 1999 win over Bayern Munich, Irwin played a starring role at Camp Nou.

Not that his winner's medal - or any of them for that matter - takes pride of place in his Manchester home.

"They're down at the museum, I don't see them at all, beamed the 57-year-old Red Devils legend right), still looking in remarkable shape.

"Manchester United's museum is the safest place to have them. I'm not one to look back. It is what it is. Every year a team tries to win a treble. But this year it just seems more doable." Irwin doesn't want Manchester City emulating his old team's heroics from 24 years ago and makes no apologies for it.