When Sir Alex Ferguson Named The Two Senior Manchester United Players Who Let Him Down On His 'Worst Ever Day'
Ferguson singled out the two players after one of the heaviest defeats of his career.
October 23, 2011. A date that Manchester City fans will never forget.
A 6-1 win over bitter rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford confirmed City were no longer just the 'noisy neighbours' but a major force in the Premier League.
The victory would usher in a period of remarkable success for City, which continues to this day, tipping the balance of power in Manchester in favour of the blue half.
Just hours after hitting the headlines for of a fire at his home, Mario Balotelli put City ahead in the derby before revealing a shirt with the iconic phrase 'Why Always Me?' printed on it. United were then reduced to 10 men when Jonny Evans was sent off for a foul on the Italian.
Balotelli added a second for City after the break before Sergio Aguero gave the visitors a 3-0 lead.
Darren Fletcher pulled one back for United with 10 minutes to go but late goals from Edin Dzeko (2) and David Silva would secure City a famous win at the 'Theatre Of Dreams'.
To this day City supporters taunt their rivals with the chant 'It should have been 10', and Sir Alex Ferguson admitted after the match that it was his "worst ever day" in football.
Speaking after the match, Ferguson criticised Evans for getting sent off and also slammed senior players Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra.
He said: "It was a bad day, there is no doubt about that, it was my worst ever day.
"Jonny Evans's sending off was a killer for us. With 10 men we kept attacking - it was crazy football and ended up being an embarrassment.
"We should have just said: 'We've had our day'.
"I believe you shouldn't bring down a man on the edge of the box. Evans is young but he should let Balotelli go through and see what he can do.
"I thought with the experience we've got - Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra - they would have defended more but we just kept attacking.
"Sometimes there has to be common sense about it. It was a bad day.
"I can't believe the scoreline. Even as a player I don't think I ever lost 6-1. That's a challenge for me too."
City would go on to win the Premier League that season, narrowly beating United to the title after a dramatic victory over QPR on the final day.
Ferguson would get his revenge the following campaign, guiding United to the title in his final season in management.
It still remains the last time United won the league, while City have gone on to claim the title four times in the years since.
Featured Image Credit: PA ImagesTopics: Manchester City, Football, Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, Premier League
Rory O'Callaghan