Sir Alex Ferguson has described Manchester United's 6-1 defeat at home to Manchester City as the worst he has experienced in over half a century in the game.
City took the lead on 20 minutes through Mario Balotelli and that was
the difference between the teams at half-time. When Jonny Evans was
dismissed shortly after the break, though, the visitors were able to run
riot.
Balotelli added his second on the hour and Sergio Aguero
made it 3-0 nine minutes later. Darren Fletcher then restored hope in
the 81st minute, but two goals from Edin Dzeko either side of a David
Silva strike dealt Ferguson his most humbling defeat.
"It was our
worst ever day," Ferguson said. "It's the worst result in my history,
ever. Even as a player I don't think I ever lost 6-1. That's challenge
for me too."
It was Manchester United's worst home defeat since
the 1930-31 season, when they were beaten 6-0 by Huddersfield Town amid a
run of 12 straight losses in the First Division.
"I can't believe
the scoreline. The first goal was a blow for sure but it was
retrievable at 1-0. The sending off was a killer for us. We kept
attacking when we went 4-1 down and we should have just said: 'We've had
our day.'"
Ferguson felt the more experienced players in the team should have realised pressing for further goals was an unwise tactic.
"We
just kept attacking. They were attacking three versus two. It was crazy
football," he said. "I thought with the experience we've got - Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra - they would [defend more] but we just kept attacking. Sometimes there has to be common sense about it. It was a bad day."
He
added: "What did concern me was the goals for and against. Goal
difference may count. Last year it was in our favour. Most years it is
in our favour. This time maybe not."
Despite his immense
disappointment, Ferguson feels that the severity of the defeat could
prove positive as the club will feel a strong determination to make
amends.
"We'll come back. By January we'll be okay. We usually get
the show on the road in the second half of the season and that will
have to be the case," he added. "We've played all the teams around us
and they have all to play each other so the second half of the season is
important to us now.
"We will react, no question about that. It's
a perfect result for us to react to because there is a lot of
embarrassment in the dressing room and that will make an impact."
The scale of the defeat did concern Ferguson, though, as he looked ahead to the
potential importance of goal difference as the season progresses.
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