Fergie’s off day BECKS APPEAL
IF you are looking for Exhibit A of evidence to show how the Manchester derby has changed, the clash at Maine Road 20 years ago this year tells the tale in more ways than one.
Firstly, United manager Alex Ferguson did not even attend. He had already committed to travelling to South Africa for his son’s wedding on the weekend of November 18, 2000.
And when the fixture list was altered in the weeks beforehand, scheduling the derby for that exact date, Fergie stuck to his guns and made the trip, leaving newly-appointed
England coach Steve McClaren in charge.
“I can remember at the time in the build-up to the game hearing that Fergie wasn’t going to be there and I was thinking that it was a sign they were taking us lightly,” Nicky Weaver, City’s then goalkeeper recalls. “And Joe Royle made a point of bringing it up in his pre-match team talk. “I suppose Fergie could do what he wanted at that time, he had the stature because of what he achieved but there would not be too many United managers now taking the weekend of a Manchester derby off. We saw it as a great opportunity to win because of that.”
David Beckham, not long confirmed as the new England captain, whipped a humdinger of a free-kick into the top corner inside 90 seconds, however, and that killed momentum for the home fans as they savoured their first derby game for four anda-halfyears. It was the longest wait for the fixture since World War II and you had to go back 15 meetings for City’s last win – the historic 5-1 trouncing of United in 1989.
“Even in the warm-up you could sense that it was something special, the stadium was packed to the rafters an hour before kick-off. At the time United were the top team in the Premier League and the Champions League holders. The whole team was littered with class.
“I was only 21 at the time and felt we actually did okay in the game.
“I remember Beckham’s free-kick went in my side on the right. I should have done better but he was the best free-kick taker in the world at the time.
“I hopped to my left for a better view of the ball and as I did Beckham whipped it over my right shoulder and I couldn’t reach.
“It was really disappointing from my point of view and it’s only 20 years later that I can smile about it.
“I wasn’t smiling at the time but at least now I can tell my kids that David Beckham got one past me when he was in his pomp.”
City won just four more times in the rest of the league season after that and were relegated while United romped home to clinch their third league title in a row.
How times have changed.