A furious Sir Alex Ferguson dropped his “biggest message” ever to his former Manchester United players after a humiliating moment in his legendary managerial career.
That is according to former Manchester United first-team coach Rene Meulensteen, who recalled how Sir Alex Ferguson “tore into the players” after one match.
Ferguson enjoyed both the highs and lows during his legendary career at Old Trafford, with the Scotsman capturing a whopping 38 trophies with the club.
The 82-year-old iconic Scot, who arrived at Old Trafford in 1986, called it time on his managerial career in 2013 after leading the club to the Premier League title.
However, Ferguson had fallen short of the league trophy in the season before his retirement, with Manchester City narrowly edging out United in the title race.
Manchester City won the Premier League title on the final day of the 2012-13 season after Sergio Aguero’s dramatic injury-time winner against Queens Park Rangers.
Ferguson also endured another tough moment in the aforementioned campaign after the Red Devils were thumped 6-1 at Old Trafford by City in 2011.
Meulensteen on Man Utd and Ferguson
Manchester United were humiliated during Manchester City’s title-winning season after the Red Devils suffered a crushing defeat at home in the Premier League.
Mario Balotelli opened the scoring for Roberto Mancini’s men at Old Trafford before United defender Jonny Evans was sent off by Mark Clattenburg in the second half.
Former City striker Mario Balotelli completed his brace in the second half before Sergio Aguero put Mancini’s side 3-0 up in the Premier League tie.
Darren Fletcher pulled one back for United in the 81st minute, only for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men to suffer a complete collapse towards the end of the match.
Edin Dzeko came off the bench and scored in the 89th minute, with City legend David Silva finding the back of the net in injury time at Old Trafford.
Former City striker Edin Dzeko completed his brace only minutes after David Silva scored against United, with Ferguson left furious with his players’ performances.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Rene Meulensteen said: “Everyone was very disappointed, but the manager was furious, not necessarily because we lost, but the fact we lost the game so heavily.
“He tore into the players and said ‘I understand running into a game like that and sometimes everything falls away, but we were losing 3-1, we got a man sent off. I still thought, and you lot thought, we could win the game, but we flooded people forward and got hit.’”
Ferguson’s ‘biggest message’ to Man Utd players
Goal difference settled the 2011-12 Premier League title race, with both City and United finishing on 89 points.
Ferguson was able to put behind his woes after United beat City to the league title in 2013, with the legendary Scot subsequently bowing out of Old Trafford.
However, Meulensteen revealed that Ferguson’s comments to his players after the City defeat in 2011 proved to be his “biggest message.”
“He said ‘how often do I have to say a goal difference might play a massive part in winning or not winning the league’ – and he was right in the end,” he continued.
“That was the biggest message after that game.”
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/wq0dPVR