“Every one of those involved will have had their pride hurt badly.”
Manchester United’s defeat at the hands of Man City on Sunday was as humbling as it was humiliating as the noisy neighbours announced themselves in what was dubbed ‘the biggest Manchester derby ever’.
Following the game individual players were singled out for abuse and whilst nobody is above being criticised some of the abuse flung at our players seems to present the view that they weren’t bothered by the result.
I’d disagree, all of the players that wear United’s shirt know what it means to be a red and they too will have been just as embarrassed as we the fans feel. There isn’t a single player that turned out on Sunday or at the club that won’t have been hurt by the result and sometimes we need to remember that.
Gary Pallister was a top defender and he was part of a United side that handed us our first league title in 26 years but he too was on the end of some shellackings, notably the 5-1 loss at Maine Road in 1989 so he knows exactly what the mood will be like at the club as he told The Telegraph,
“As well as the 5-1 defeat at Manchester City, I also played when United lost 5-0 at Newcastle in 1996 and there is no doubt that such losses are humbling and humiliating from a player’s point of view.
Within that, Sir Alex will remind the players that they are still largely the same team that delivered United’s 19th league title and played in a Champions League final last season.
He will also look at the game and remind everyone that, before the sending off of Jonny Evans, United were the stronger team.
But he will expect all of his players to motivate themselves after the City defeat because every one of those involved will have had their pride hurt badly.”
The defeat should be used to motivate us but it may not be an immediate response. Following the 4-1 loss to Liverpool in 2009 there was also a loss to Fulham but there will be a response.
United didn’t lose any trophies on Sunday and as long as the players still understand their responsibility as United players I don’t think the City result will have any lingering effect.