Ferdinand reveals Fergie ‘destroyed’ ex-Man Utd star over City gaffe

Joe Williams
Man Utd boss boss Alex Ferguson and Rio Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand has revealed how Sir Alex Ferguson “destroyed” Ruud van Nistelrooy in the dressing room after a derby between Man Utd and Man City.

Ferdinand experienced his first Manchester derby just four months after arriving from Leeds United in July 2002 – but Ferguson’s side were well beaten 3-1 at Maine Road.

The size of the occasion became apparent after the match with Ferguson losing his cool with Van Nistelrooy for bringing a City shirt into the dressing room.


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“We got beat 3-1 at Maine Road with Shaun Goater scoring two goals,” Ferdinand said on his Vibe with FIVE YouTube channel during an interview with Vincent Kompany.

“That was the first derby I played and the moment I realised how big it was was in the changing room after.

“We walked in and the manager shut the door. It was quiet and then all of a sudden he just erupted.

“Ruud van Nistelrooy, who was the God then, walked in with a City shirt in his hand and I remember Sir Alex Ferguson just absolutely unloaded on him. He destroyed him, saying: ‘If I ever see any of you walking with a City shirt ever again you’ll never play for this club.’

“That’s how he was, he was just mad. That’s when I sat there and thought: ‘This is a big game, isn’t it?’

“I didn’t realise before that game and ever since then, whether you win more or less, I knew that week leading up to a derby was all or nothing.”

In contrast to Ferguson, Paul Parker claimed last week that current Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs a stronger voice.

“He needs someone to come in next to him who can help him improve that squad. Ole needs to be stronger but he needs someone experienced, with more stature, in that dressing room working as his assistant,” Parker told BetFred.

“He’s head coach. In all the great teams that Manchester United have had, look at the assistants that sat next to Alex Ferguson.

“It didn’t bother him having different people around him. He gained experience and it made his teams better. Whoever came in made his teams better and it made him a better manager.”

Parker added: “We’re in a world now where people can’t shout at people because they get upset. Find out about them. Get them upset. Tell them the truth about their game. It hurts.

“Roy Keane would have told you that you were c**p on a Monday morning. In this current United side, none of them are shouting at one another.”