Ex-Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson – who had once bragged that United would never ever feature as underdogs going into a derby with their bitter rivals City – was clearly less than impressed as he shook his head with disgust in unbelief when Ilkay Gundogan’s seemingly effortless volley found the net after just 13 seconds on Saturday evening.
Fergie was caught on camera reacting after Ilkay Gundogan made FA Cup history with his spectacular volley for the Sky Blues as the fastest ever goal.
The German star found the net in just 12 seconds with a lovely first-time volley on Saturday afternoon and cameras were quick to cut to the legendary Manchester United iconic former boss, who was evidently unimpressed with the striker’s feat as he could be seen pushing his glasses back up before shaking his head in disgust. Specsavers replied to the video on social media with a cheeky quip: “Adjusting his glasses to check it’s real!”
One fan tweeted: “Sir Alex Ferguson seen shaking his head in the stands. Us too, Sir Alex!”
“If he’s furious, he should blame the guy on his right… they are the reason United have been run poorly these past years,” a second fumed. While a third added: “Because he’s stuck next to someone who doesn’t understand football!”
Adding to this, back in 2009 almost immediately after City were taken over by Sheikh Mansour, Ferguson was asked if United would ever go into a derby match as underdogs, to which the doyen responded: “Not in my lifetime.”
However, United indisputably went into Saturday’s final as resounding underdogs, with City pressing on doggedly, and most impressively, for a treble that has only been achieved by their cross-town neighbors.
BBC commentator Guy Mowbray referenced the quote earlier this season, joking: “Sir Alex Ferguson was asked in 2009 if Man City could ever go into a derby as favorites, he said ‘not in my lifetime’ … now it’s every time.”