• Premier League

United fans turn on Ferguson

ESPN staff
March 26, 2014
The ESPN FC team break down Manchester United's poor performance against Manchester City

Furious Manchester United supporters vented their anger at Sir Alex Ferguson after Tuesday's 3-0 drubbing by Manchester City at Old Trafford.

After the match, angry fans close to the directors' box reportedly yelled expletives at the former United manager over his decision to handpick David Moyes as his successor and for leaving what they feel is an inadequate team behind in retirement.

Moyes was also subject to verbal abuse, with one fan pulled away by stewards from the manager's seat in the dug-out, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Stadium stewards also had to be deployed to prevent supporters from tearing down a banner in the Stretford End honouring Moyes as "The Chosen One".

Ferguson retired last season and was a key driving force in the decision to chose Moyes to take over the club that he led to 13 Premier League titles in 27 years.

He is revered by most United fans but as the first season of the new era after his decision to step down lurches from one crisis to another, there was evidence they started to turn on him earlier this month.

United are currently in seventh with 51 points and an emphatic defeat to their cross-town rivals - their 10th league loss of the season - was apparently too much for some fans to take.

Tuesday's defeat ensured United will finish with their lowest points total of the Premier League era.

Club officials, including Sir Bobby Charlton, have publicly stood by Moyes, though sources told ESPN last week that key Manchester United boardroom figures have considered the possibility of sacking their manager for the first time.

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