Featured Image Credit: The Overlap/Alamy
Topics: Gary Neville, Football, Manchester United, Ruud Van Nistelrooy
Nasir Jabbar
Topics: Gary Neville, Football, Manchester United, Ruud Van Nistelrooy
Gary Neville has recalled the moment Sir Alex Ferguson 'snapped' after one of his players swapped shirts with a Manchester City star.
Manchester United face their cross-town rivals on Saturday in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.
It's a bitter and historic feud, with Neville opening up on Ferguson's outburst following a swap shirt after a Man City vs. Man United meeting.
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In 2002, the Blues beat the Red Devils 3-1, with Ruud van Nistelrooy entering the dressing room with a Man City shirt following the crushing defeat at Maine Road.
Speaking on The Overlap, the former Man United right-back recalled how the legendary boss exploded on the Dutch forward.
"So at the end of that game, I think it came out after, Ruud van Nistelrooy swapped shirts," he said.
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"Somebody asked to swap shirts with Ruud. Do you remember it (Roy)? Who was it that asked to swap shirts with Ruud?"
Neville added: "And he swapped shirts and walked into the dressing room with a Manchester City shirt on his (chest). I mean, all hell broke loose. He snapped!
"And basically, 'None of you ever, ever, swap one of my shirts ever again', pointing towards the City shirt. He went absolutely mad. Crazy. Something like that."
Rio Ferdinand also harked back to the fiery exchange as he claimed Ferguson told Van Nistelrooy he'd 'never play for the club again'.
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"We got beat 3-1 at Maine Road with Shaun Goater scoring two goals," he said on his podcast.
"That was the first derby I played and the moment I realised how big it was was in the changing room after.
"We walked in and the manager shut the door. It was quiet and then all of a sudden he just erupted.
"Ruud van Nistelrooy, who was the God then, walked in with a City shirt in his hand and I remember Sir Alex Ferguson just absolutely unloaded on him."
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The former Man United defender added: "He destroyed him, saying: 'If I ever see any of you walking with a City shirt ever again you'll never play for this club.'
"That's how he was, he was just mad. That's when I sat there and thought: 'This is a big game, isn't it?'
"I didn't realise before that game and ever since then, whether you win more or less, I knew that week leading up to a derby was all or nothing."
Of course, Van Nistelrooy survived the axe as he enjoyed a prolific and trophy-laden career at Man United.