Despite being one of the best managers to ever grace the footballing world, even Sir Alex Ferguson suffered the odd humiliating result. With Championship side Middlesbrough making the journey down to Old Trafford this Wednesday in the Capital One Cup, we take a look at the time Boro humiliated Manchester United.
Ferguson summarised the game as “shocking”
By pure coincidence, the humiliating defeat on Teesside happened 10 years ago this Thursday, just one day after the two sides face off yet again. Manchester United were touted as the only side who could possibly stop Chelsea in their quest for the Premier League title, but instead were hammered 4-1 at the Riverside Stadium.
In an error-filled game by United the game got off to an awful start after just two minutes, when Edwin van der Sar gifted the home side the lead, as he let the ball trickle through his fingers after a fairly tame shot from former Barcelona midfielder Gaizka Mendieta from 25 yards out.
Such an uncharacteristic mistake from one of the most reliable keepers around seemed to leave United shell-shocked, and in truth they never really recovered.
Clinical Boro left United racing to get home
Another United mistake, this time by Rio Ferdinand saw Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink add a second goal for Middlesbrough, followed by a coolly dispatched Yakubu penalty for their third.
Things got worse for United, when they actually went 4-0 down on the day as Mendieta drilled in his second of the evening. Only a 90th-minute consolation from a young Cristiano Ronaldo gave Ferguson's side the slightest slice of dignity as they fled Middlesbrough with their tails between their legs.
Chelsea never allowed Manchester United to recover the huge 13-point gap the defeat opened up and retained their title, confirming their superiority by beating United 3-0 in April at Stamford Bridge.
Timing of the Capital One Cup fixture adds to the storyline
The coincidental timing of the Capital One Cup fixture this week, just one day before ten-year anniversary of that shock 4-1 result, adds an extra storyline to an already interesting game.
The Championship side arrive at Old Trafford on the back of a 3-1 away win at Wolves on Saturday. Aitor Karanka's men recently went on a seven-match winning run in all competitions and while a winless streak of three games preceded their win over Wolves, they currently sit fourth in the second-tier table.
United on the other hand come into the game on the back of a bore 0-0 draw against local rivals Manchester City, which saw the Blues return to the top of the Premier League. The Red Devils now occupy in fourth place, as they look to make an outside push for the title this season.
It is possible that the weeknight fixture will see Louis Van Gaal rotate the squad, so it is not a forgone conclusion that United will win. However, another 4-1 victory for the Teessiders would remain unlikely whatever side Van Gaal chooses to send out, even with the backing of a 10,000-strong away following in the stands.
