It was the game – and result – Sir Alex Ferguson never got over.
So much so that he refused to discuss it 12 months on, and barely mentioned it in his subsequent autobiography, published in 2013. And who can blame him?
Manchester City's 6-1 demolition of Manchester United back in 2011 was the afternoon the footballing power shifted from red to blue.
READ MORE: Hojlund insists Man Utd move is worth it but doesn't want Haaland comparisons
READ MORE: 'Ten Hag vs Sancho is nothing – I called Graeme Souness a liar live on TV'
I covered this game and recall journalists sat opened-mouthed in the press box as the goals continued to go in. Fergie's face started to turn as puce as United's shirts.
It was the first time in history a Manchester derby had taken place with the bitter rivals and neighbours in first and second place in the table.
And the history kept on being made.
Sky Sports is bringing you 500 live football games to watch, as well access to Cricket, Golf, F1, Boxing, NFL, NBA and more across eight dedicated channels. Sky Sports is the only way to watch all the action this year.
£22 a month
It was City's biggest ever win in the derby and their biggest at Old Trafford since trouncing United 5-0 in 1955. The boys in blue basically strutted into Fergie's back yard and trashed the place.
Under normal circumstances, Mario Balotelli's decision to reveal the infamous 'Why Always Me' message on his vest after scoring the opening goal for City would have been the headline of the day.
Maybe it was always you Mario because you used to drive round Manchester with thousands of pounds in notes and a fake gun in your glovebox!
But come the final whistle, Fergie could have been forgiven for wondering why this had happened to him.
"It was our worst ever day," he said afterwards, "it's the worst result in my history, ever. Even as a player I don't think I ever lost 6–1. That's a challenge for me too. I can't believe the scoreline."
No-one could.
In the corresponding fixture 12 months earlier, Wayne Rooney had scored that wonder goal to provide United and Fergie with one of those iconic moments.
But a year later all this was forgotten, because City had trampled on the memories of it and provided new ones all those who were inside Old Trafford on October 23, 2011, will never forget.
Source: Read Full Article