Sir Alex Ferguson snubbed Manchester City officials at half-time during Manchester United’s defeat against their bitter rivals at Old Trafford on Tuesday because he was ‘humiliated’ by the Red Devils’ performance.
Pep Guardiola’s men had a three-goal lead at half-time after a scintillating 45 minutes in which they effectively put one foot in the Carabao Cup final.
Marcus Rashford scored in the second half to keep alive United’s slim hopes of reaching the final but the damage was already done in a first half that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer described as the worst his side had played so far this term.
The League Cup was seen as a realistic chance of silverware for Solskjaer in his first full season at United and Ferguson was desperate for his apprentice to guide the club to the final.
But goals from Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and an Andreas Pereira own goal left Ferguson seething and the Daily Record claim he snubbed City officials at half-time.
It’s claimed Ferguson headed straight for his office at Old Trafford for a glass of red wine and was seen with a ‘face like thunder’ as he made his way over.
The Scot felt ‘humiliated’ and couldn’t bear to face City officials, while Ed Woodward was said to have sat ‘with his head in his hands’.
United’s second half performance did salvage the night somewhat, at least by preventing a heavier defeat that appeared so likely during the first half.
But it was another showcasing of how far United have fallen since Ferguson’s retirement.
The bad news kept coming for Solskjaer as it was revealed that Harry Maguire is set for a month on the sidelines with a hip injury.
United are already without the injured Marcos Rojo and Axel Tuanzebe, while Eric Bailly is not ready for first team football after six months on the sidelines with a knee injury.
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