Manchester United center-back Jonny Evans has shared the advice he received from Sir Alex Ferguson following the infamous 6-1 derby defeat to Manchester City at Old Trafford.
In the aftermath, Ferguson described the result as the ‘worst in my history,’ marking what some consider the beginning of a power shift in Manchester football. Reflecting on that moment in a recent MUTV interview, Evans shared the invaluable advice Ferguson imparted to him.
“It was a dark day for everyone involved,” he admitted. “I actually thought I had been playing quite well in the game up until half-time.
“It was quite early on in the second half when I pulled Balotelli down. In the changing rooms, we have got the TV on and I am sitting watching the goals go in and what do you even think in that moment?
“The boss came in and it was a really bad moment for him in his managerial career as well but he never took anything out on me. I think as a collective on that day, with the team we had on the pitch with a lot of experience, we could have handled that better.
“I felt a huge responsibility for that. The only thing the boss ever said to me was when Balotelli went through: ‘Next time, trust your ‘keeper,’ and it is something that always stuck with me because it is true. How many times do you see centre-forwards go one-on-one with the goalkeeper and the ‘keeper saves it or he misses?”
More than ten years later and nearing the twilight of his career, Evans may find himself in the lineup for United against City on Sunday when the two fierce rivals clash at the Etihad Stadium. The match carries significant weight for both teams, with the Reds vying for Champions League qualification while Pep Guardiola’s Blues push forward in their pursuit of the title.