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.
Source: espn.com
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