SIR ALEX FERGUSON was in attendance for Simply Red’s concert at Co-Op Live in Manchester last week.
Rather than trek all the way down to London to watch United suffer some more capital punishment at Brentford, Ferguson watched his old friend Mick Hucknall serenade his hometown.
Sir Alex Ferguson snubbed the visit to Brentford for a Simply Red concertGetty
Shutterstock EditorialRuben Amorim’s side were defeated 3-1 by the Bees[/caption]
Ferguson and Hucknall have been close for decades. Hucknall once trained with United before their Champions League group game with Barcelona in 1994. United were thumped 4-0.
Hucknall’s access on that trip extended to visiting Paul Ince and Ryan Giggs’s room in Catalonia, back when the team-mates shared a room.
If you don’t know United by now, they’re unrecognisable from Fergie’s time.
Don’t rain on my parade
XAVI is a fan of Manchester – but not the city’s weather.
The former Spain midfielder has been out of a job since he left Barcelona last year but he is high up on bookies’ chalkboards to become the next United manager.
Xavi spoke admiringly about United before Barca’s enthralling two-legged Europa League knockout ties with the club in February 2023.
However, Xavi half-jokingly told confidants that the infamously rainy weather in Manchester would be a deterrent if United ever came calling.
World Cup winner Xavi made his European debut for Barcelona in an enthralling 3-3 draw with United in the Champions League at Old Trafford in September 1998.
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The 45-year-old guided Barcelona to the 2022-23 La Liga title but his only other managerial experience was with Al Sadd in Qatar.
Whilst out of management, Xavi is keeping himself busy by investing in AI company Kognia, used by a number of football clubs for analysis.
Xavi could be put off by the Manchester weatherGetty
Take a swing
UNITED fans Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry were instrumental in Europe’s raucous Ryder Cup win at Bethpage Black last week and could make a future appearance at Old Trafford.
McIlroy was invited to Old Trafford to show off the Claret Jug following his victory at The Open in 2014 and United staff say he would be welcome back, along with Lowry.
Luke Littler was a guest of United’s in January after his World Darts Championship triumph in the darts.
When McIlroy was paraded by United on the pitch 11 years ago, it was on the opening day of the 2014-15 season. United had won all of their pre-season games, collecting the International Champions Cup in Miami.
As one United source said amid the possibility of McIlroy and Lowry getting the VIP treatment, United could do with winning some games themselves.
GettyRory McIlroy and Shane Lowry could be invited to Old Trafford[/caption]
Off court
MICK COURT’s departure as technical chief scout from United is another predictable exit in the Ineos era at the club.
Court used to be trumpeted by former United chief Ed Woodward as the mastermind behind the club’s recruitment. Woodward even told confidants in 2019 he had “nothing to do with recruitment”, crediting Court.
Fast-forward two years, and Woodward attempted to claim as much credit as possible for Cristiano Ronaldo’s return.
Court was baffled by Woodward’s briefings and even telephoned a journalist to stress how far-removed he actually was from the recruitment process.
Although Court has successfully kept his image off the internet, he was a fixture in the Old Trafford press box, where he conducted his matchday analysis.
Paying the penalty
PGMOL bosses privately concede Brentford’s Nathan Collins SHOULD have been sent off as United plunged to another defeat at the GTech Stadium.
Ref Craig Pawson awarded a penalty and yellow card when Collins hauled back Bryan Mbeumo but VAR Andy Madley opted against recommending a sending off, arguing that the United man did not have control of the ball.
It is accepted at PGMOL headquarters that was an error, as it was the foul by Collins that prevented Mbeumo having a clear sight of goal.
PGMOL’s X feed explanation of the decision has led to issues with the social media platform after it was “community noted” and accused of permeating misinformation.
Sun Sport understands that led to official contact with X, with the refs’ organisation pointing to their post being a statement of fact, explaining the rationale behind the decision, irrespective of whether it was a correct call, which is another judgement.
AlamyNathan Collins avoided a red card for a foul on Bryan Mbeumo[/caption]
Groundhog day
A LONG-TIME United matchgoer has noticed that Diogo Dalot has perfected the hands-on-hips-thousand-yard-stare in the wake of drubbings.
Dalot stood motionless in front of the away end at Brentford, striking that pose. He was pictured doing exactly the same thing after United were battered 4-0 at Brentford three years ago.
A scroll through the picture archives shows he did likewise at Everton in April 2019 (another 4-0 hammering), Brighton in May 2022 (another 4-0 hammering) and Crystal Palace in May 2024 (another 4-0 hammering).
The Everton drubbing came in Dalot’s first season at United.
AlamyDiogo Dalot’s 1000-yard stare[/caption]
United family
UNDER-18 coach and legendary midfielder Darren Fletcher has continued to impress behind the scenes at Carrington.
Fletcher, 41, has been instilling United DNA to his academy side, with quick attacks, fast wingers and a variety of goals this season.
If he continues to impress, Fletcher could very quickly become a real contender to take charge of the first team on an interim basis in the event of a managerial shake-up.
United figures have been dazzled by Fletcher’s work ethic and are convinced that the Scot is destined to become a top manager.
Fletcher went straight back to work days after having surgery on his knee after suffering cartilage damage during the United Legends game against Celtic Legends in early September.
His Under-18s play excellent football and are early title contenders, despite the side being very young, with 14-year-old JJ Gabriel the star of the team.
Fletcher’s side didn’t concede a single goal in their opening six games before Man City handed them their first defeat of the season with a 4-2 win last time out.
United goalkeeper Frederick Heath was sent off after bringing down City striker Freddie Lamb in a one-on-one in the 80th minute.
One of the main reasons Fletcher took over the role in July was because both of his midfielder sons Tyler and Jack were both bumped up to the Under-21s.
Jack, along with Shea Lacey, is close to breaking into the first team.
PADarren Fletcher has impressed with Man Utd Under-21s[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
